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{{Short description|British Army general, politician and colonial administrator (1772–1846)}}
{{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}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = Sir George Murray
| name = Sir George Murray
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GCH|FRS}}
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|GCH|FRS}}
| image = George Murray Portrait.jpg
| image = General George Murray (1772-1846), by John Hoppner.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = George Murray portrait by [[George Theodore Berthon]]
| caption = George Murray portrait by John Hoppner RA
| order1 = [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies]]
| order1 = [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies]]
| term_start1 = 30 May 1828
| term_start1 = 30 May 1828
| term_end1 = 22 November 1830
| term_end1 = 22 November 1830
| monarch1 = [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]] <br> [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]
| monarch1 = [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]] <br/> [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]
| primeminister1 = [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|The Duke of Wellington]]
| primeminister1 = [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|The Duke of Wellington]]
| predecessor1 = [[William Huskisson]]
| predecessor1 = [[William Huskisson]]
| successor1 = [[Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|The Viscount Goderich]]
| successor1 = [[Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|The Viscount Goderich]]
| birth_date = {{birth-date|df=yes|6 February 1772|}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1772|02|6}}
| birth_place = [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], Perthshire
| birth_place = [[Ochtertyre]], Perthshire
| death_date = {{death-date and age|28 July 1846|6 February 1772}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1846|07|28|1772|02|6}}
| death_place = [[Belgrave Square]], London
| death_place = [[Belgrave Square]], London
| nationality = British
| nationality = British
| party = [[Tory (political faction)|Tory]]
| party = [[Tory (political faction)|Tory]]
| alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Louisa Erskine|1825|1842|end=died}}
| spouse =
| children = 1
}}
}}
'''Sir George Murray''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCB|GCH|FRS}} (6 February 1772 – 28 July 1846) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] soldier and politician from [[Scotland]].
'''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]].


==Background and education==
==Background and education==
Murray was born in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], 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]].
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]].


==Military career==
==Military career==
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.co.uk/books?id=-wGSAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA255&dq=%22the+british+army+against+napoleon%22+burnham+medals&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rDtzVYPAPIiU7AbI2IOADA&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22the%20british%20army%20against%20napoleon%22%20burnham%20medals&f=false Bob Burnham: ''The British Army Against Napoleon'', p259]</ref>
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>


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]].


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|startpage=2285|date=19 December 1834}}</ref> to 1835 and again between 1841 and 1846.<ref name=dcb/>
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/>


==Political career==
==Political career==
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 1824–1832 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.
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.


==Other public appointments==
==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, Scotland|Fort George]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=18614|startpage=1766|date=25 September 1829}}</ref>
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, Scotland|Fort George]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=18614|page=1766|date=25 September 1829}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
[[File:Miss Murray, 1824-26, Sir Thomas Lawrence,.jpg|thumb|Miss Murray (Louise Georgina), 1824–26, by [[Thomas Lawrence|Sir Thomas Lawrence]]]]
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]]; they 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.
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.


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
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:
''In Memory of General the Right Hon. Sir George Murray, G.C.B., G.C H., Colonel ist 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>[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 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)]</ref>
''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>


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, and [[Murray House]], one of the oldest surviving public buildings in Hong Kong, were named after him. 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 | editors = Pamela Statham | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 1989 | location = Melbourne | page = 142 | isbn = 0 521 36242 3}}</ref>
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>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist}}
* ''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)

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Harding-Edgar|first=John |title=Next To Wellington: General Sir George Murray: The Story of a Scottish Soldier and Statesman, Wellington's Quartermaster General|year=2018|publisher=Hellion & Company|isbn=9781912390137}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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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]]}}
{{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|Hon. Fox Maule]]}}
{{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-ttl|title=[[List of Governors and Commandants of Sandhurst|Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]|years=1819–1824}}
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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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{{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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{{succession box | title=[[Commander-in-Chief, Ireland]] | before=[[Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere|The Viscount Combermere]] | after=[[John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford|Sir John Byng]] | years=1825–1828}}
{{succession box | title=[[Commander-in-Chief, Ireland]] | before=[[Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere|The Viscount Combermere]] | after=[[John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford|Sir John Byng]] | years=1825–1828}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet|Sir David Baird]]}}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet|Sir David Baird]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Governor of Inverness]] | years=1829–1833}}
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Revision as of 22:14, 28 May 2024

"Sir George Murray" redirects here. For early New Zealand ship, see United Tribes of New Zealand § Flag.

The Right Honourable
Sir George Murray
GCB GCH FRS
George Murray portrait by John Hoppner RA
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
In office
30 May 1828 – 22 November 1830
MonarchsGeorge IV
William IV
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Wellington
Preceded byWilliam Huskisson
Succeeded byThe Viscount Goderich
Personal details
Born(1772-02-06)6 February 1772
Ochtertyre, Perthshire
Died28 July 1846(1846-07-28) (aged 74)
Belgrave Square, London
NationalityBritish
Political partyTory
Spouse
Louisa Erskine
​
​
(m. 1825; died 1842)​
Children1

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

Miss Murray (Louise Georgina), 1824–26, by Sir Thomas Lawrence

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dictionary of Canadian Biography on-line
  2. ^ Bob Burnham: The British Army Against Napoleon, p259
  3. ^ "No. 19222". The London Gazette. 19 December 1834. p. 2285.
  4. ^ "No. 18614". The London Gazette. 25 September 1829. p. 1766.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
Wikisource has original works by or about:
George Murray
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Perthshire
1824–1832 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Perthshire
1834–1835 		Succeeded by
Military offices
New regiment Colonel of the 7th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot
1817–1823 		Battalion disbanded
Preceded by Colonel of the 72nd Regiment of Foot
1817–1823 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
1819–1824 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Colonel of the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot
1823–1843 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance
1824–1825 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
1825–1828 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Inverness
1829–1833 		Office abolished
Preceded by Colonel of the 1st, or The Royal Regiment of Foot
1843–1846 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
1828–1830 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Master-General of the Ordnance
1834–1835 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Master-General of the Ordnance
1841–1846 		Succeeded by
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