David Murray (Scottish politician) explained

David Murray (born 1900, date of death unknown), was a Scottish nationalist and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Murray was educated at Glasgow University where he took a Bachelor of Science in engineering.[1]

Professional career

Murray studied steelmaking in Germany. He was an engineer in Australia. He was a steel salesman in the United States and South America. He became an industrial journalist and author.[2] In 1960 he published The first nation in Europe: a portrait of Scotland and the Scots. In 1962, he published Ecurie Ecosse: the story of Scotland's international racing team.

Political career

Murray was an early advocate of Scottish Home Rule. He was a member of the committee of the Scottish Covenant Association, and took part in the launching of the Scottish Covenant.[3] He was an independent Scottish Home Rule candidate for the Western Isles division at the 1950 general election, having unsuccessfully sought endorsement from the Scottish Liberal Party. He finished a poor third. At the 1951 general election, he stood in the Western Isles after being endorsed as the Liberal candidate, but then had to compete for the nationalist vote when a Scottish National Party candidate intervened.[4] Murray finished third. He remained active for the Liberal Party on the Western Isles, but the local association decided not to run a candidate at the 1955 general election. He decided to contest the 1958 Glasgow Kelvingrove by-election and stood as an Independent Liberal candidate. He finished third, but in the wake of this defeat, an alliance was formed to co-operate in promoting Scottish self-government.[5] Murray was an Independent candidate for the Motherwell division at the 1959 general election, finishing a poor third. He did not stand for parliament again.[6]

Collections of his papers are held in the National Library of Scotland.[7] [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. The Times House of Commons, 1950
  2. The Times House of Commons, 1959
  3. The Times House of Commons, 1951
  4. News: Labour in danger in the Western Isles. Liberal-Unionist Challenge . 6 . . 8 October 1951 . 12 March 2016.
  5. News: Home Rulers set up new organisation. Scottish Alliance "Born" at Kelvingrove By-election . The Glasgow Herald . 5 April 1958 . 4 . 12 March 2016.
  6. British parliamentary election results 1950-1970, Craig, F.W.S.
  7. Web site: Inventory. Acc 7914. Papers, 1937-42, of David Murray, Industrial Journalist, writer and broadcaster, Relating to the Independent Labour Party and to the Spanish Civil War . . 12 March 2016.
  8. Web site: Inventory. Acc 7915. Further Papers, 1934-51, of David Murray, on Political and Industrial Affairs . National Library of Scotland . 12 March 2016.