George Murray (bishop of Rochester) explained

George Murray
Bishop of Rochester
Diocese:Diocese of Rochester
Term:1827–1860
Predecessor:Hugh Percy
Successor:Joseph Wigram
Other Post:Dean of Worcester
1828–1845
Bishop of Sodor and Man
1813–1827
Consecration:6 March 1814
Birth Date:12 January 1784
Birth Place:Farnham, Surrey
Death Place:Chester Square, London
Buried:Kensal Green, Middlesex
Nationality:British
Religion:Christianity (Anglican)
Residence:Chester Square, London
Parents:George and Anne Murray
Spouse:Sarah Hay-Drummond
Children:6 daughters; 5 sons inc.
George Hay Murray
Education:Harrow School
Alma Mater:Christ Church, Oxford

George Murray (12 January 1784 – 16 February 1860) was an Anglican bishop. He was Bishop of Rochester from 1827 until his death in 1860. He was previously the Archdeacon of Man, Dean of Worcester and Bishop of Sodor and Man.

Background and education

Murray was born in Farnham, Surrey, the second son of George Murray, Bishop of St David's, himself the second son of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl, Chief of Clan Murray. Murray's mother, Anne Charlotte (d.1844), was the daughter of Francis Grant (MP and general); she served as Lady-in-Waiting to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (wife of George III). Murray's youngest sister was Amelia was also a courtier, and a writer.[1]

Murray attended Harrow before matriculating at Christ Church, Oxford, on 22 December 1801, graduating Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1806, proceeding Oxford Master of Arts (MA Oxon) in 1810, and Doctor of Divinity (DD) by diploma on 13 March 1814.

Ministry

On 29 September 1808, Murray was installed, like his father, as the Archdeacon of Man; on 22 May 1813 he was nominated as Bishop of Sodor and Man by his cousin John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl and consecrated on 6 March 1814. On 24 November 1827 he was elected Bishop of Rochester, receiving back the temporalities on 14 December 1827, and on 19 March 1828 was appointed Dean of Worcester, being succeeded in 1845 by John Peel.

While commending the character of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, Murray attacked some of the Tracts for the Times, especially Nos. 81 and 90, in his episcopal charge of October 1843. Several of his sermons and charges were published.

Family

Murray married, on 5 May 1811, Sarah Hay-Drummond, second daughter of Robert Hay-Drummond, 10th Earl of Kinnoull (by his wife Sarah Harley, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Harley, Lord Mayor of London), by whom he had five sons and six daughters, including:

After a protracted illness, Murray died at his town residence in Chester Square, London, on 16 February 1860, aged 76. He was buried in the family vault at Kensal Green.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Joves. E. Vernon. No Ordinary Courtier. The Carmarthen Historian. 1977. XIV. 73.
  2. Obituary - Canon Francis Henry Murray. 13 October 1902 . 9 . 36897.