George Murray (British Army officer): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|British Army general, politician and colonial administrator (1772–1846)}} |
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{{redirect|Sir George Murray|early New Zealand ship|United Tribes of New Zealand#Flag}} |
{{redirect|Sir George Murray|early New Zealand ship|United Tribes of New Zealand#Flag}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} |
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October |
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
{{Infobox officeholder |
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| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] |
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] |
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| predecessor1 = [[William Huskisson]] |
| predecessor1 = [[William Huskisson]] |
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| successor1 = [[Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|The Viscount Goderich]] |
| successor1 = [[Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|The Viscount Goderich]] |
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| birth_date = {{ |
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1772|02|6}} |
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| birth_place = [[ |
| birth_place = [[Ochtertyre]], Perthshire |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1846|07|28|1772|02|6}} |
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1846|07|28|1772|02|6}} |
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| death_place = [[Belgrave Square]], London |
| death_place = [[Belgrave Square]], London |
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| party = [[Tory (political faction)|Tory]] |
| party = [[Tory (political faction)|Tory]] |
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| alma_mater = |
| alma_mater = |
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| spouse = {{Marriage|Louisa Erskine|1825|1842|end=died}} |
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| spouse = |
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| children = 1 |
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'''Sir George Murray''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GCH|FRS}} (6 February 1772 – 28 July 1846) was a |
'''Sir George Murray''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GCH|FRS}} (6 February 1772 – 28 July 1846) was a British soldier and politician from [[Scotland]]. |
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==Background and education== |
==Background and education== |
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Murray was born in [[ |
Murray was born in [[Ochtertyre]], near [[Crieff]] in [[Perthshire]], the second son of Sir William Murray, of Ochtertyre, 5th Baronet (see [[Murray Baronets]]), and was educated at the [[Royal High School (Edinburgh)|Royal High School]], Edinburgh and the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref name=dcb>[http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3575 Dictionary of Canadian Biography on-line]</ref> His mother was Lady Augusta Mackenzie, youngest daughter of the Jacobite [[George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie|George, 3rd Earl of Cromartie]]. His elder brother was [[Sir Patrick Murray, 6th Baronet]]. |
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==Military career== |
==Military career== |
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In 1789, Murray obtained a [[Commissioned officer|commission]] into the [[71st Foot]],<ref name=dcb/> reaching the rank of [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] in 1794, and saw service in [[Flanders]] (1794–95),<ref name=dcb/> the [[West Indies]], England and Ireland. In 1799 he was made a [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant-colonel]], entering the Quartermaster General's Department and making his considerable reputation as [[Quartermaster General]] (1808–11) during the [[Peninsular War]], under the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]], and receiving promotion to [[Colonel]] in 1809.<ref name=dcb/> After a brief period as Quartermaster General in Ireland, Murray returned to the Peninsular Campaign as [[Major-General]] (1813–14), and was invested with the [[Order of the Bath]] in 1813.<ref name=dcb/> |
In 1789, Murray obtained a [[Commissioned officer|commission]] into the [[71st Foot]],<ref name=dcb/> reaching the rank of [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] in 1794, and saw service in [[Flanders]] (1794–95),<ref name=dcb/> the [[West Indies]], England and Ireland. In 1799, he was made a [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant-colonel]], entering the Quartermaster General's Department and making his considerable reputation as [[Quartermaster General]] (1808–11) during the [[Peninsular War]], under the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]], and receiving promotion to [[Colonel]] in 1809.<ref name=dcb/> After a brief period as Quartermaster General in Ireland, Murray returned to the Peninsular Campaign as [[Major-General]] (1813–14), and was invested with the [[Order of the Bath]] in 1813.<ref name=dcb/> During the Peninsular War he was present at the battles of [[Battle of Corunna|A Coruña]], [[Battle of Talavera|Talavera]], [[Battle of Busaco|Busaco]], [[Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro|Fuentes de Oñoro]], [[Battle of Vittoria|Vittoria]], [[Battle of Nivelle|Nivelle]], [[Battle of Nive|Nive]], [[Battle of Orthez|Orthez]] and [[Battle of Toulouse (1814)|Toulouse]]. His [[Peninsular Gold Medal]] had six clasps – only the Duke of Wellington, with nine clasps, Sir [[Dennis Pack]] and [[William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford|Lord Beresford]], with seven each, had more clasps to their medal.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=-wGSAwAAQBAJ&dq=%22the+british+army+against+napoleon%22+burnham+medals&pg=PA255 Bob Burnham: ''The British Army Against Napoleon'', p259]</ref> |
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He was briefly in Canada from December 1814 to May 1815 where he was appointed provisional [[Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada]] and reviewed the country's defences.<ref name=dcb/> He quickly returned to Europe following [[Napoleon]]'s escape from [[Elba]], but arrived too late to take part in the [[Battle of Waterloo]]. |
He was briefly in Canada from December 1814 to May 1815 where he was appointed provisional [[Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada]] and reviewed the country's defences.<ref name=dcb/> He quickly returned to Europe following [[Napoleon]]'s escape from [[Elba]], but arrived too late to take part in the [[Battle of Waterloo]]. |
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After the cessation of hostilities, Murray was based in France as Chief of Staff to the Army of Occupation and, thereafter, he was appointed [[List of Governors and Commandants of Sandhurst|Governor]] of the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] in 1819.<ref name=dcb/> He was awarded an honorary degree by the [[University of Oxford]] in 1820 and was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1824. |
After the cessation of hostilities, Murray was based in France as Chief of Staff to the Army of Occupation and, thereafter, he was appointed [[List of Governors and Commandants of Sandhurst|Governor]] of the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] in 1819.<ref name=dcb/> He was awarded an honorary degree by the [[University of Oxford]] in 1820 and was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1824. In 1825, he married Lady Louisa Erskine, widow of Sir James [[Erskine of Torrie]] (1772–1825). Subsequently, he was made [[Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance]] and then [[Commander-in-Chief, Ireland]], but in 1828 he resigned the position and became [[Chief Secretary (British Empire)|Colonial Secretary]].<ref name=dcb/> He was later [[Master-General of the Ordnance]] from 1834<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19222|page=2285|date=19 December 1834}}</ref> to 1835 and again between 1841 and 1846.<ref name=dcb/> |
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==Political career== |
==Political career== |
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Murray was a [[Tory Party|Tory]] and later [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] in politics. He was Member of Parliament for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]] from |
Murray was a [[Tory Party|Tory]] and later [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] in politics. He was Member of Parliament for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]] from 1824 to 1832 and from 1834 until he retired in 1835. He served as [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies]] from 1828 to 1830.<ref name=dcb/> He also contested [[Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Westminster]] in 1837 and [[Manchester (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester]] in both 1839 and 1841, without success. |
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==Other public appointments== |
==Other public appointments== |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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[[File:Miss Murray, 1824-26, Sir Thomas Lawrence,.jpg|thumb|Miss Murray (Louise Georgina), 1824–26, by [[Thomas Lawrence|Sir Thomas Lawrence]]]] |
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Murray was married to Lady Louisa Erskine (née Paget) ( |
Murray was married to Lady Louisa Erskine (née Paget) (1777–1842), widow of Lieutenant General Sir James Erskine (1772–1825), and sister of his fellow general, [[Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey|Henry, Lord Anglesey]]; the couple had one daughter, Louise Georgina. Murray died in July 1846, aged 74, and was buried in [[Kensal Green Cemetery]], London. His substantial papers and maps were given to the [[National Library of Scotland]] by a great-niece in 1913. |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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The Memorials to Governors in the Chapel of the present-day [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] include: |
The Memorials to Governors in the Chapel of the present-day [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] include: |
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''In Memory of General the Right Hon. Sir George Murray, G.C.B., G.C H., Colonel |
''In Memory of General the Right Hon. Sir George Murray, G.C.B., G.C H., Colonel 1st Royal Regiment of Foot. Died 28 July 1846, aged 74. He served in Holland, Egypt, Syria, the West Indies, Denmark, and Sweden ; wsLS Q.M.G. in the Peninsula; Commander-in-Chief in Canada; Chief of the Staff of the Army of Occupation in France ; Commander of the Forces in Ireland, and twice Master-General of the Ordnance. He was Governor of this College from 1819 to 1824.''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/augustus-ferryman-mockler-ferryman/annals-of-sandhurst--a-chronicle-of-the-royal-military-college-from-its-foundat-hci.shtml |title=Major Augustus F. Mockler-Ferryman F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. `Annals of Sandhurst : a chronicle of the Royal Military College from its foundation to the present day, with a sketch of the history of the Staff College` (London: William Heinemann, 1900) |access-date=23 April 2012 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729230851/http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/augustus-ferryman-mockler-ferryman/annals-of-sandhurst--a-chronicle-of-the-royal-military-college-from-its-foundat-hci.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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The [[Murray River]] and [[Mount Murray (New South Wales)|Mount Murray]] in eastern Australia, the [[Murray River (Western Australia)|Murray River]] and [[Murray County, Western Australia|Murray County]] in Western Australia, were named after him. Places in [[Hong Kong]] named after him include: [[Murray House]], one of the oldest surviving public buildings in Hong Kong, [[Murray Building]], [[Murray Road]] and the former [[Murray Barracks]]. The city of [[Perth, Western Australia |
The [[Murray River]] and [[Mount Murray (New South Wales)|Mount Murray]] in eastern Australia, the [[Murray River (Western Australia)|Murray River]] and [[Murray County, Western Australia|Murray County]] in Western Australia, were named after him. Places in [[Hong Kong]] named after him include: [[Murray House]], one of the oldest surviving public buildings in Hong Kong, [[Murray Building]], [[Murray Road]] and the former [[Murray Barracks]]. The city of [[Perth]], Western Australia was named in his honour after his parliamentary constituency [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]].<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Bolton | first1 = Geoffrey | authorlink1 = Geoffrey Bolton | title = The Origins of Australia's Capital Cities | chapter = Perth: A Foundling City |editor1= Pamela Statham | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 1989 | location = Melbourne | page = 142 | isbn = 0-521-36242-3}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
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* ''Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885'', edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976) |
* ''Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885'', edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976) |
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{{succession box | before=[[James Drummond, 8th Viscount Strathallan|James Drummond]] | title=Member of Parliament for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]] | years=1824–1832 | after=[[John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane|The Earl of Ormelie]]}} |
{{succession box | before=[[James Drummond, 8th Viscount Strathallan|James Drummond]] | title=Member of Parliament for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]] | years=1824–1832 | after=[[John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane|The Earl of Ormelie]]}} |
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{{succession box | before=[[John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane|The Earl of Ormelie]] | title=Member of Parliament for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]] | years=1834–1835 | after=[[Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie| |
{{succession box | before=[[John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane|The Earl of Ormelie]] | title=Member of Parliament for [[Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Perthshire]] | years=1834–1835 | after=[[Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie|Fox Maule]]}} |
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{{s-bef | before=[[Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill|The Lord Hill]]}} |
{{s-bef | before=[[Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill|The Lord Hill]]}} |
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{{s-ttl | title=Colonel of the [[72nd Regiment of Foot]] | years=1817–1823}} |
{{s-ttl | title=Colonel of the [[72nd Regiment of Foot]] | years=1817–1823}} |
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{{s-aft | after=[[John Hope (British Army officer)|Sir John Hope]]}} |
{{s-aft | after=[[John Hope (British Army officer, born 1765)|Sir John Hope]]}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Alexander Hope (British Army officer)|Sir Alexander Hope]]}} |
{{s-bef|before=[[Alexander Hope (British Army officer)|Sir Alexander Hope]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Governors and Commandants of Sandhurst|Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]|years=1819–1824}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Governors and Commandants of Sandhurst|Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]|years=1819–1824}} |
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{{s-bef | before=[[John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun|The Earl of Hopetoun]]}} |
{{s-bef | before=[[John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun|The Earl of Hopetoun]]}} |
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{{s-ttl | title=Colonel of the [[Black Watch|42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot]] | years=1823–1843}} |
{{s-ttl | title=Colonel of the [[Black Watch|42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot]] | years=1823–1843}} |
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{{s-aft | after=[[John Macdonald (British Army officer)|Sir John Macdonald]]}} |
{{s-aft | after=[[John Macdonald (British Army officer, died 1850)|Sir John Macdonald]]}} |
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{{succession box | title=[[Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance]] | before=[[William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford|The Viscount Beresford]] | after=[[William Henry Clinton|Sir William Henry Clinton]] | years=1824–1825}} |
{{succession box | title=[[Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance]] | before=[[William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford|The Viscount Beresford]] | after=[[William Henry Clinton|Sir William Henry Clinton]] | years=1824–1825}} |
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[[Category:1772 births]] |
[[Category:1772 births]] |
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[[Category:1846 deaths]] |
[[Category:1846 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Military personnel from Perth, Scotland]] |
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[[Category:People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh]] |
[[Category:People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh]] |
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[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]] |
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]] |
Revision as of 22:14, 28 May 2024
Sir George Murray | |
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Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | |
In office 30 May 1828 – 22 November 1830 | |
Monarchs | George IV William IV |
Prime Minister | The Duke of Wellington |
Preceded by | William Huskisson |
Succeeded by | The Viscount Goderich |
Personal details | |
Born | Ochtertyre, Perthshire | 6 February 1772
Died | 28 July 1846 Belgrave Square, London | (aged 74)
Nationality | British |
Political party | Tory |
Spouse |
Louisa Erskine
(m. 1825; died 1842) |
Children | 1 |
Sir George Murray GCB GCH FRS (6 February 1772 – 28 July 1846) was a British soldier and politician from Scotland.
Background and education
Murray was born in Ochtertyre, near Crieff in Perthshire, the second son of Sir William Murray, of Ochtertyre, 5th Baronet (see Murray Baronets), and was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh.[1] His mother was Lady Augusta Mackenzie, youngest daughter of the Jacobite George, 3rd Earl of Cromartie. His elder brother was Sir Patrick Murray, 6th Baronet.
Military career
In 1789, Murray obtained a commission into the 71st Foot,[1] reaching the rank of captain in 1794, and saw service in Flanders (1794–95),[1] the West Indies, England and Ireland. In 1799, he was made a lieutenant-colonel, entering the Quartermaster General's Department and making his considerable reputation as Quartermaster General (1808–11) during the Peninsular War, under the Duke of Wellington, and receiving promotion to Colonel in 1809.[1] After a brief period as Quartermaster General in Ireland, Murray returned to the Peninsular Campaign as Major-General (1813–14), and was invested with the Order of the Bath in 1813.[1] During the Peninsular War he was present at the battles of A Coruña, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes de Oñoro, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez and Toulouse. His Peninsular Gold Medal had six clasps – only the Duke of Wellington, with nine clasps, Sir Dennis Pack and Lord Beresford, with seven each, had more clasps to their medal.[2]
He was briefly in Canada from December 1814 to May 1815 where he was appointed provisional Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada and reviewed the country's defences.[1] He quickly returned to Europe following Napoleon's escape from Elba, but arrived too late to take part in the Battle of Waterloo.
After the cessation of hostilities, Murray was based in France as Chief of Staff to the Army of Occupation and, thereafter, he was appointed Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1819.[1] He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Oxford in 1820 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1824. In 1825, he married Lady Louisa Erskine, widow of Sir James Erskine of Torrie (1772–1825). Subsequently, he was made Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance and then Commander-in-Chief, Ireland, but in 1828 he resigned the position and became Colonial Secretary.[1] He was later Master-General of the Ordnance from 1834[3] to 1835 and again between 1841 and 1846.[1]
Political career
Murray was a Tory and later Conservative in politics. He was Member of Parliament for Perthshire from 1824 to 1832 and from 1834 until he retired in 1835. He served as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies from 1828 to 1830.[1] He also contested Westminster in 1837 and Manchester in both 1839 and 1841, without success.
Other public appointments
Murray was also President of the Royal Geographical Society (1833–35) and Governor of Edinburgh Castle. On 7 September 1829 he was appointed Governor of Fort George.[4]
Personal life
Murray was married to Lady Louisa Erskine (née Paget) (1777–1842), widow of Lieutenant General Sir James Erskine (1772–1825), and sister of his fellow general, Henry, Lord Anglesey; the couple had one daughter, Louise Georgina. Murray died in July 1846, aged 74, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. His substantial papers and maps were given to the National Library of Scotland by a great-niece in 1913.
Legacy
The Memorials to Governors in the Chapel of the present-day Royal Military Academy Sandhurst include: In Memory of General the Right Hon. Sir George Murray, G.C.B., G.C H., Colonel 1st Royal Regiment of Foot. Died 28 July 1846, aged 74. He served in Holland, Egypt, Syria, the West Indies, Denmark, and Sweden ; wsLS Q.M.G. in the Peninsula; Commander-in-Chief in Canada; Chief of the Staff of the Army of Occupation in France ; Commander of the Forces in Ireland, and twice Master-General of the Ordnance. He was Governor of this College from 1819 to 1824.[5]
The Murray River and Mount Murray in eastern Australia, the Murray River and Murray County in Western Australia, were named after him. Places in Hong Kong named after him include: Murray House, one of the oldest surviving public buildings in Hong Kong, Murray Building, Murray Road and the former Murray Barracks. The city of Perth, Western Australia was named in his honour after his parliamentary constituency Perthshire.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dictionary of Canadian Biography on-line
- ^ Bob Burnham: The British Army Against Napoleon, p259
- ^ "No. 19222". The London Gazette. 19 December 1834. p. 2285.
- ^ "No. 18614". The London Gazette. 25 September 1829. p. 1766.
- ^ "Major Augustus F. Mockler-Ferryman F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. `Annals of Sandhurst : a chronicle of the Royal Military College from its foundation to the present day, with a sketch of the history of the Staff College` (London: William Heinemann, 1900)". Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ Bolton, Geoffrey (1989). "Perth: A Foundling City". In Pamela Statham (ed.). The Origins of Australia's Capital Cities. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. p. 142. ISBN 0-521-36242-3.
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
Further reading
- Harding-Edgar, John (2018). Next To Wellington: General Sir George Murray: The Story of a Scottish Soldier and Statesman, Wellington's Quartermaster General. Hellion & Company. ISBN 9781912390137.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir George Murray
- Sir George Murray at electricscotland.com
- 1772 births
- 1846 deaths
- Military personnel from Perth, Scotland
- People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- British Army commanders of the Napoleonic Wars
- British Army personnel of the Peninsular War
- Recipients of the Army Gold Cross
- British Army generals
- Commanders-in-Chief, Ireland
- Scottish Tory MPs (pre-1912)
- Fellows of the Royal Society
- Governors of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Lieutenant-Governors of Upper Canada
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Members of the Privy Council of Ireland
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies
- Politics of Perth and Kinross
- Presidents of the Royal Geographical Society
- Secretaries of State for War and the Colonies
- UK MPs 1820–1826
- UK MPs 1826–1830
- UK MPs 1830–1831
- UK MPs 1831–1832
- UK MPs 1832–1835
- Younger sons of baronets
- 71st Highlanders officers
- Commandants of Sandhurst
- Black Watch officers
- King's Royal Rifle Corps officers
- Royal Scots officers
- Seaforth Highlanders officers
- Recipients of the Military Order of Max Joseph