George Murray (bishop of Rochester)

George Murray (12 January 1784 – 16 February 1860) was a British churchman, Archdeacon of Man, Dean of Worcester, Bishop of Sodor and Man and Bishop of Rochester.

Background and education

A member of Clan Murray, he was born at Farnham, the second son of the Right Reverend Lord George Murray, second son of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl. His mother was Anne Charlotte, daughter of Lieutenant-General Francis Grant.^[1] He matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford, on 22 December 1801, graduating B.A. in 1806, M.A. in 1810, and D.D. by diploma on 13 March 1814.

Career

On 29 September 1808 he was installed, like his father, archdeacon of Man; on 22 May 1813 he was nominated Bishop of Sodor and Man by his cousin the 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 nominated 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, Lady Sarah Hay-Drummond, second daughter of Robert Hay-Drummond, 10th Earl of Kinnoull, by whom he had five sons and six daughters, including Sir Herbert Harley Murray and Reverend George Edward Murray, ancestor of the present Duke of Atholl.^[1] He died, after a protracted illness, at his town residence in Chester Square, London, on 16 February 1860, aged 76, and was buried in the family vault at Kensal Green.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Murray, George (1761-1803)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.