Upon the death of his father in 1626 he inherited the title of 5th Earl of Montrose and the 23rd Chief of Clan Graham. Three years later he fell in love with and married Lady Magdalene Carnegie, daughter of David Carnegie, soon to become 1st Earl of Southesk. As they were both minors it was decided that they should live under Carnegie's roof at Kinnaird Castle in Angus. By the time of his 21st birthday anniversary the couple had four children -- three boys and one girl. Nothing further is known of the Countess Magdalene, not even the date or place of her death. However, it is thought to have been about 1637.

      Although a 21 year-old father of four children, James Graham traveled to Europe in 1633 to further his education. Little was written of his travels but it is certain that he visited Italy and France where the Thirty Years War was still raging. Although he didn't become involved in the actual fighting he did learn some of the martial ways from such great commanders as the 'great Condé' of France and Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. There began the moulding of the man he became. The story of his military exploits is told elsewhere on this panel. But in addition to being a great military commander, Montrose was a scholar and a poet of some note. His poems have been collected and collated and produced in various forms over the years (a copy of which we have in our Museum library). Among his most famous words are:

          "He either fears his fate too much,
           Or his deserts are small.
          That puts it not unto the touch
          To win or lose it all."

      The best known of all portraits of Montrose is by the great Flemish artist Honthorst which was painted in 1649 not long after Montrose had heard of the execution of King Charles I. We can see the mood of Montrose now, the black armour, and the sombre, dark background of the picture. Montrose gave this portrait to Charles' aunt and daughter of King James VI/I, Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, sometimes known as "The Winter Queen", or "Queen of Hearts". The original now believed to reside in Brechin Castle.

      James Graham is a Scottish hero who dedicated his life to the proposition that people should be able to worship God according to their consciences. He helped create and promulgate the National Covenant but he actively opposed the violent extremists who would deny this right to everyone who believed differently than they. For that he was cruelly murdered.