Described by the press as living with his mother in a poky flat in London and working as an assistant manager of a printing works in Uxbridge earning œ20 a week when, after the death of his third cousin, he inherited his title at the age of twenty-five. However, the press did not mention that his family owned the printing works and that they had owned and lived at Blair Castle since 1932. 

The inherited Atholl estates in rich Perthshire run to 120,000 acres which, a hundred years ago, covered 194,500 acres. However, the decline of the family lands have been much less rapid than those of many other Scottish aristocrats. Attending the House of Lords regularly, he spoke on the subject of forestry, of which he was an expert. 

He lived in Blair Castle and was an active supporter of the Scottish Landowners' Federation and the National Trust. He was also chairman of the Westminster Press, in which his mother's family had a major interest, and was involved with charitable work. He was witty, friendly and well informed. Even though he was a Duke, he was approachable and shared his detailed knowledge of his family tree. "Wee Iain", 6ft 4in tall, as Duke of Atholl was the only man in Britain allowed to have his own private army. When he died he was succeeded by a second cousin once removed. 
 

Source: Leo van de Pas