Charles Wyndham Murray

Charles Wyndham Murray
Born 22 February 1844(1844-02-22)
Died 1 November 1928(1928-11-01) (aged 84)
Nationality British
Education Marlborough College
Occupation Soldier and politician
Title Member of Parliament for Bath
Term 1896–1902
Political party Conservative
Spouse Emma Konarski nee Walker (1890–1922)
Parents Rev Thomas Boyles Murray and Helen Douglas
Military career
Allegiance  UK
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1862-1890
Rank Major
Battles/wars Anglo-Zulu War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
Battle of Tel el-Kebir

Col Sir Charles Wyndham Murray KCB GCStJ (22 February 1844[1] – 1 November 1928) was a British Army officer and politician. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament MP for Bath from 1892–1906 and as Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod in the Order of the Bath from 1913 until his death.

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Charles Wyndham Murray was born on 22 February 1844, the son of Rev Thomas Boyles Murray and Helen Douglas, and was educated at Marlborough College.[1]

Rev Murray served as Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral and is remembered there by a pair of candle holders at the main entrance which were given by Sir Murray in memory of his father.

Career

He began his military career as an Ensign in the 61st South Gloucestershire Regiment in November 1862, promoted to Lieutenant in October 1865 and passed from Staff College in 1872. By October 1877 he was a Captain and in July 1881, a Major. During World War I, he served as military King's Messenger in France.

In 1875, he was appointed Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General in Cork, and then moved to the Intelligence Department in Dublin. In 1878, he moved to Turkey, where he was a military attaché. During the Anglo-Zulu War, he was aide-de-camp to Major General Crealocke (1st Division), then deployed with Clarke's column on reconnaissance missions (medal and clasp). In Spring 1880, he was attached to 72nd Highlanders at Kabul (staff), became orderly officer to General Thomas Durand Baker, taking part in the Logar Valley expedition of May–June 1880.

In 1882, he was involved in the Egyptian war, as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General on the base and lines of communication; he was present at Tel-el-Kebir, gaining the Khedive's Star and 4th Class Osminieh. During 1884-85, he took part in the Bechuanaland operations. He retired from the service in 1890.

He was elected Conservative MP for Bath 1892-1906 and was a member of Carlton and Army and Navy Clubs. His appointments included Chairman of the Japan Society from 1913 to 1918, and he held the Order of the Rising Sun; Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod in the Order of the Bath (1913), and Knight of Justice of the Order of St John.

Marriage and children

He married Emma Cecilia Walker in 1890. Lady Murray, as she was known, died in 1922. Their country seat was 'Culverlands' at Burghfield in Berkshire.

Death and afterward

Culverlands, the former residence of Col. Sir Charles Wyndham Murray, C.B., is an 18th-century house altered and enlarged in 1879. It is a plain plastered building with a balustraded parapet and slate roofs, situated in an elevated well-wooded park, the cedars being particularly fine. The araucarias were raised from seed brought from South America by the late Thomas Bland Garland and are probably the oldest in England grown by this method[2]

Charles W Murray also wrote a short biography of himself and there is a copy in the Reference section of the Public Library in Bath, England.

Awards and honours

References

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Edmond Wodehouse
Robert Laurie
Member of Parliament for Bath
18921906
With: Edmond Wodehouse
Succeeded by
Donald Maclean
George Peabody Gooch
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod
1913 – 1928
Succeeded by
R G A W Stapleton-Cotton