John Murray (died 1753) explained

Honorific Prefix:The Right Honourable
John Murray
Office:Member of Parliament for Selkirkshire
Term Start:1734
Term End:1753
Predecessor:James Rutherford
Successor:Gilbert Elliot
Office1:Member of Parliament for Lanark Burghs
Term Start1:1725
Term End1:1734
Predecessor1:Daniel Weir
Successor1:James Carmichael
Death Date:2 July 1753
Children:6, including John Murray

John Murray (died 2 July 1753), of Philiphaugh, Selkirk, was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1725 to 1753.

Early life

Murray was the eldest son, of three sons and five daughters, born to the former Margaret Don and Sir James Murray, of Philiphaugh, Selkirk. His sister, Ann Murray, married John Pringle, Lord Haining.

His maternal grandfather was Sir Alexander Don, 1st Baronet, of Newton, Berwick. His paternal grandparents were Sir John Murray of Philiphaugh, MP for Selkirkshire and the former Anne Douglas (daughter of Archibald Douglas, 13th of Cavers).[1] As head of a celebrated Border family, they owned great estates in Ettrick and Yarrow and acquired their Philiphaugh estates in the fifteenth century.[1] Murray was returned in a contest as Member of Parliament for Linlithgow Burghs at a by-election on 6 April 1725. He was returned unopposed at the 1727 British general election. At the 1734 British general election he was returned unopposed as MP for Selkirkshire. He was returned unopposed again in 1741. At the 1747 British general election he was opposed, but his opponent died before the poll whereupon an unknown candidate came forward who was defeated.[1]

Personal life

On 31 December 1711, Murray married Eleanor Hamilton (–1783), eldest daughter of the former Mary Dunbar and Lord Basil Hamilton (sixth son of William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton and Anne Hamilton, suo jure Duchess of Hamilton). Together, they were the parents of at least four sons and two daughters:[3]

Murray died on 2 July 1753 and was succeeded by his second son, John, as his eldest son had died in 1747.[1] His widow died in December 1783.[4]

Descendants

Though his son John, he was a grandfather of James Murray, of Philiphaugh and Eleanor Murray (wife of Sir James Naesmyth, 3rd Baronet of Posso).[4]

Though his son Charles, he was a grandfather of Charles Scott-Murray of Danesfield, MP for Buckinghamshire.[4]

Through his daughter Mary, he was a grandfather of Sir Alexander Don, 5th Baronet, of Newton.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MURRAY, John (d.1753), of Philiphaugh, Selkirk.. History of Parliament Online. 2013-02-27.
  2. A. J.. Mann. Murray, Sir James, Lord Philiphaugh (1655-1708). 2004. 10.1093/ref:odnb/19615.

    Career

    In 1708, he succeeded his father, becoming the hereditary Sheriff of Selkirk from 1708 until 1734.[1]

  3. Book: Paul . James Balfour . The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom . 1910 . D. Douglas . 518 . 4 November 2022 . en.
  4. Book: Burke . John . A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry; Or, Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland Etc . 1838 . Henry Colburn . 59 . 4 November 2022 . en.