David King Murray, Lord Birnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lord Birnam
FRSE
|
|
|---|---|
| Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland | |
| In office 3 July 1945 – 1955 |
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| Monarch | George VI Elizabeth II |
| Member of Parliament for Midlothian & Peebles Northern | |
| In office 11 February 1943 – 15 June 1945 |
|
| Preceded by | John Colville |
| Succeeded by | Lord John Hope |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | |
| In office 10 June 1941 – 3 July 1945 |
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| Preceded by | James Reid |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Blades |
| Chairman of the Scottish Land Court | |
| In office 10 May 1938 – 10 June 1941 |
|
| Preceded by | Lord MacGregor Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Lord Gibson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas David King Murray
29 March 1884 Bothwell, Lanarkshire |
| Died | 5 June 1955 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Spouse | Edith Lilian Archer |
| Relations | James Murray (father) |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Profession | Advocate |
Thomas David King Murray, Lord Birnam (born 29 March 1884 – died 5 June 1955), was a very important Scottish lawyer and judge. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for a short time. He was known by different names during his career, including Lord Murray and Sir David King Murray. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas David King Murray was born on March 29, 1884. His family lived in Bothwell, a town in Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father, James Murray, was a merchant in Glasgow.
Young Thomas went to school at Hamilton Academy and then the High School of Glasgow. He was a bright student and continued his studies at the University of Glasgow. He earned several degrees there, including a Master of Arts (MA) in 1904, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in 1905, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1908. These degrees helped him prepare for a career in law.
A Career in Law and Public Service
Thomas King Murray started his legal career as a solicitor in Glasgow. A solicitor is a type of lawyer who advises clients and prepares legal documents. He worked for a company called Russell & Duncan.
Becoming an Advocate
On March 18, 1910, he became an advocate. An advocate is a lawyer who can represent clients in higher courts in Scotland. This was a big step in his career.
Service During Wartime
During World War I, King Murray served his country. He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). This was a part of the Royal Navy made up of volunteers.
After the war, he went back to his law practice. He worked for the government as a Junior Counsel to the Treasury in Scotland from 1927 to 1928.
Judge and King's Counsel
From 1928, he served as a Sheriff-Substitute in Airdrie. A sheriff is a judge in Scotland who deals with many types of cases. He held this position until 1933.
In August 1933, he became a King's Counsel. This is a special title given to experienced lawyers who are considered experts in their field. After this, he left his sheriff role to work in the Court of Session, which is Scotland's highest civil court.
From 1936 to 1938, he was a Senior Advocate Depute. This means he was a senior prosecutor for the government. He was known as one of the best King's Counsels of his time.
Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
In May 1938, King Murray was appointed as the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court. This court deals with disputes about land in Scotland. When he took on this role, he adopted the judicial title Lord Murray. He led the court until June 1941.
Solicitor General for Scotland
In June 1941, during World War II, Lord Murray joined the government. He became the Solicitor General for Scotland. This is a very important legal role, advising the government on law. When he took this job, he stopped using the title Lord Murray.
He was also knighted by King George VI in 1941. This meant he was now called Sir David King Murray. In the same year, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which is a prestigious academic society.
He also chaired the Scottish Coalfields Committee from 1942 to 1944. This committee likely dealt with issues related to coal mining in Scotland during the war.
Member of Parliament
From 1941 to 1945, he served as the Solicitor General for Scotland. During this time, he also became a Member of Parliament (MP). He was elected in a special election in 1943 for the area of Midlothian and Peebles North. He was a member of the Unionist Party.
Sir David King Murray decided not to run for Parliament again in the 1945 general election.
Lord of Session
After leaving Parliament in 1945, he was appointed as a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland. This meant he became a judge in Scotland's highest courts. He was given a new judicial title: Lord Birnam. He served as a Lord of Session until 1955.
Family Life
In 1946, Thomas David King Murray married Edith Lillian Archer. His nephew, Ronald King Murray, also became a very important lawyer and judge, known as Lord Murray.
