leburn died suddenly from a heart attack while at his hunting lodge at lochmore near lairg, sutherland in august 1963, aged 50. his seat was at the time the safest conservative and unionist seat in scotland. the local association had selected as his successor george younger, but the earl of home's appointment as prime minister meant he needed a seat in the house of commons. home disclaimed his peerage under the peerage act 1963, and younger agreed to give up his claim on the seat.