Andrew Murray (Scottish politician) facts for kids
Sir Andrew Hunter Arbuthnot Murray (1903 – 1977) was an important leader in Edinburgh, Scotland. He served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1947 to 1951. The Lord Provost is like the mayor of a city in Scotland. He was also the Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, which means he represented the King or Queen in the city. Sir Andrew was also a Justice of the Peace, helping with local law and order.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sir Andrew Murray was born on December 19, 1903. His parents were Alfred Alexander Arbuthnot Murray and Bethany Murray. He went to school at Daniel Stewart's College and George Heriot's School. These are well-known schools in Edinburgh.
Public Service and Politics
Sir Andrew began his career in public service quite early.
City Councillor and Treasurer
In 1929, he was elected as a City Councillor of Edinburgh. A city councillor helps make decisions for the city. He also worked as the Honorary City Treasurer from 1943 to 1946. This role meant he helped manage the city's money.
Political Leadership
Sir Andrew was also involved in national politics. He was the President of the Scottish Liberal Party Organisation from 1961 to 1965. This meant he was a key leader for the Liberal political party in Scotland.
Military Connections
Sir Andrew Murray had strong ties to the military, even though he wasn't a full-time soldier.
Honorary Colonel Roles
He was an Honorary Colonel for several military units. These included the 52nd (Queens Edinburgh Royal Scots) Searchlight Regiment and the 130th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He was also an Honorary Colonel for the 587th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, all part of the Royal Artillery. Being an Honorary Colonel is a special title given to people who support military groups.
Awards and Honours
Sir Andrew received many important awards and honours for his service.
Knighthood and OBE
In 1945, he was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire). This is a special award from the King or Queen for great achievements. On February 25, 1949, he was knighted. This meant he could use the title "Sir" before his name.
Order of Saint John
He was also honoured by the Venerable Order of Saint John. He became a Commander of this order in 1949 and a Knight of St John in 1954. This order is known for its work in healthcare and first aid. He also held important roles within the Scottish part of this order.
University Recognition
In 1950, the University of Edinburgh gave him an honorary doctorate degree in law. This was to recognise his important contributions to public life. In 1953, he was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Edinburgh.
Scottish National War Memorial
Sir Andrew was very involved with the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle.
Chairman of Trustees
He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the memorial. This meant he helped look after this important place. The memorial remembers Scottish soldiers who died in wars. Sir Andrew also wrote a book about the memorial.
See also
- List of Lords Provost of Edinburgh
