Alexander Murray, 7th Lord Elibank facts for kids
Alexander Murray, who became the 7th Lord Elibank, was an important Scottish nobleman. He was born on April 24, 1747, and passed away on September 24, 1820, at the age of 73.
Who Was Alexander Murray?
Alexander Murray was part of a well-known Scottish family. His father was Reverend Gideon Murray. Gideon was the younger son of Alexander Murray, who was the 4th Lord Elibank. Alexander's mother was Elizabeth. She was the daughter of General David Montolieu, Baron de St Hypolite. Alexander also had an uncle named Patrick Murray, who was the 5th Lord Elibank. His brother was David Murray, born in 1748 and who died in 1794.
His Time in Politics
Alexander Murray became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Peeblesshire in 1783. An MP is someone chosen to represent their area in the country's government. He held this job until 1784.
In 1785, he took over from his uncle and became the 7th Lord Elibank. This title was a Scottish peerage. This meant it was a special noble title from Scotland. However, because it was a Scottish title, it did not allow him to have a seat in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is one of the two parts of the UK Parliament.
He also served as the Lord Lieutenant of Peeblesshire. This was a special role where he represented the King or Queen in his local area. He held this position from 1794 until he passed away in 1820.
His Family Life
Lord Elibank was married two times. His first wife was Mary Clara. She was the daughter of Lewis Charles Montolieu, Baron de St Hypolite. They got married in 1776. Mary Clara passed away in January 1802.
In 1804, he married his second wife, Christian Catherine Steuart. She was the daughter of James Steuart. Christian Catherine lived until 1853.
Lord Elibank passed away in September 1820 when he was 73 years old. His son from his first marriage, also named Alexander, took over his title as Lord Elibank.
An Adventurous Son
Lord Elibank had another son from his second marriage named James Murray. James was born in 1810. He later became known as James Erskine Murray after he got married. James was a lawyer, also called an advocate, in Scotland. He also wrote books.
In 1841, James decided to move to Australia. From a place called Port Phillip, he had a big dream. He wanted to become a "White Rajah." A Rajah is a ruler, and he hoped to rule a part of eastern Borneo. He went on an expedition there, which means a journey with a specific purpose.
Sadly, his expedition did not go well. However, his journey caused the Dutch to get involved in the area. This led to the Sultan (ruler) of Kutei signing a treaty in 1845. This treaty meant the Dutch had control over the area. James's adventure was written about in newspapers and books, and it is still studied today.
