Robert Murray (died 1672)

Sir Robert Murray of Cameron (died 1672) was a Scottish politician.

Sir Robert Murray
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh
In office
1661–1663
Serving with James Borthuik, John Mylne
Preceded byJohn Tomfon
Succeeded bySir Andrew Ramsay
John Somervell
Provost of Edinburgh
In office
1660–1662
Preceded bySir James Steuart
Succeeded bySir Andrew Ramsay
Personal details
Died1672
Spouses
Helen Hay
(died 1663)
Jean Dickson
(m. 1665)
RelationsSir Alexander Murray, 1st Baronet (grandson)
Sir Joseph Murray, 3rd Baronet (grandson)
Children6

Early life edit

He was the second son of James Murray (died 1649), of Deuchar in Selkirkshire, who was a younger son (the second son to be called James) of Patrick Murray of Philiphaugh. Among his siblings were James Murray of Skirling (heir of their father), MP for Peeblesshire, and Patrick Murray of Deuchar, MP for Selkirkshire.[1]

Career edit

Murray was a merchant in Paris before returning to Edinburgh. In 1656, he acquired the estate on which Panmure House was later built but in 1666, "after legal proceedings, he had to part with it to James Wilkie, son of Archibald Wilkie of Harlowmuir, the original owner. In 1670 Murray bought Cameron, the joint appendage of the Prestonfield estate, from a daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton, brother of the first Earl of Haddington. Murray was proprietor of Cameron until 1677, when he sold it to Sir James Dick, Bart. Murray, who seems to have been the owner of Prestonfield also.[2]

In 1660 he became Provost of Edinburgh, succeeding Sir James Steuart. In 1661, he represented Edinburgh in the Parliament of Scotland, serving until 1663.[3] Murray was also a member of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1669 tp 1672.[2]

Personal life edit

Murray was married to Helen Hay (d. 1663), a daughter of Alexander Hay of Kenneth. Together, they were the parents of five sons, including:[1]

After the death of his first wife, he married on 1 June 1665 to Jean Dickson, a daughter of John Dickson of Hartree. They were the parents of one son:[1]

  • James Murray (b. 1669).[1]

Murray died in 1672 and was buried at Greyfriars in Edinburgh on 8 February 1672. His widow died in early 1677 and was buried on 4 February 1677.[1]

Descendants edit

Though his eldest son Alexander, he was a grandfather of Sir Alexander Murray, 1st Baronet.[4]

Through his son Robert, he was a grandfather of Sir Joseph Murray, 3rd Baronet.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Johnston, George Harvey (1910). The Heraldry of the Murrays: With Notes on All the Males of the Family, Descriptions of the Arms, Plates and Pedigrees. W. & A.K. Johnston, limited. p. 72. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Club, Old Edinburgh (1924). The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club. T. and A. Constable. p. 13. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. ^ Foster, Joseph, Members of Parliament, Scotland (1882) page 271
  4. ^ a b Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Baronetage, volume IV (1904) pp. 420-421