James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose

James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose ( born April 6, 1935 in Southern Rhodesia ) is a British politician ( Conservative Party ) and as an elected hereditary peer member of the House of Lords. He was up to the 2010 election Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Wales and Scotland.

Graham was born in Southern Rhodesia, where his father James Graham, who was then the courtesy title Marquess of Graham led, trying to build a farm. He attended boarding schools in Scotland, first in Aberdeenshire, then at the Loretto School near Edinburgh. Graham has lived for some time in China and used there for renewable energy and environmental measures. He speaks fluent Mandarin.

Graham inherited in 1992 from his father the title of Duke of Montrose, and thus the then hereditary seat in the House of Lords. Among the 90 elected hereditary peers that remain in the Upper House of Parliament by the House of Lords Act 1999, Graham is the only Duke. The second Duke in the House of Lords, the Duke of Norfolk particular, has as Earl Marshal a hereditary seat

Graham is married and has two sons and a daughter.