David Murray, 1st Viscount of Stormont facts for kids
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David Murray, 1st Viscount of Stormont (died 27 August 1631) was an important Scottish courtier. He worked closely with King James VI and I. David Murray held several key roles, including managing the king's finances as the comptroller and leading the king's guard. He was known for helping King James carry out his plans for the church in Scotland.
Contents
Early Life and Royal Service
David Murray was born into a noble family. He was the second son of Sir Andrew Murray of Arngask and Balvaird. From a young age, David grew up at the court of King James VI. In 1580, the king made him his cupbearer, a person who serves drinks to the monarch. By 1583, he became the master of the horse, in charge of the king's stables and horses.
David Murray became a knight, though the exact date is not known. On 26 April 1599, he joined the privy council, a group of advisors to the king. He also took over as the comptroller of the royal revenues, managing the king's income. He was also made the steward of the area called Fife.
Helping the King in Perth
In August 1600, David Murray was in Perth during a famous event known as the Gowrie conspiracy. He played a key role in helping to calm the people of Perth after their leader, the Earl of Gowrie, was killed. Murray helped the king safely return to Falkland.
After this event, David Murray became the new leader, or provost, of Perth. He also received land and property that had belonged to the abbacy of Scone.
Moving to England and New Titles
In 1603, David Murray was part of the group that traveled with King James when he went to become the King of England. When Murray returned to Scotland in August, he was given the job of creating a special guard of forty horsemen to help the privy council keep order.
In 1604, he was chosen as one of the Scottish representatives to discuss a possible union between Scotland and England. During this time, he was given the important title of Viscount Stormont.
On 1 April 1605, his lands in Ruthven and Scone were officially made into the Lordship of Scone. This gave him a special place and vote in the Scottish parliament. He received more land and titles in the years that followed.
Royal Duties and Challenges
In June 1605, as comptroller and captain of the guards, David Murray was sent to Kintyre in Argyllshire. His mission was to make sure the clan chiefs in the southern Hebrides obeyed the king and paid their taxes.
He also helped the king with church matters. In March 1607, he was appointed to represent the king in church meetings, called synods, in Perth and Fife. These meetings were about a new plan to appoint permanent leaders for the churches. David Murray worked hard to make sure the king's plans were followed.
In June 1610, when the role of justice of the peace was created, he became a justice for the areas of Fife, Kinross, and Perth. This meant he helped keep law and order in these regions.
Later Life and Legacy
David Murray was one of three special representatives sent by the king to a big church meeting in Perth in August 1618. At this meeting, important new rules for the church, known as the Five Articles of Perth, were approved. He was also the king's representative at another church meeting in St. Andrews in August 1619.
In July 1621, he was chosen by the bishops to be one of the "lords of the articles" for the parliament in Edinburgh. After parliament approved the Five Articles of Perth, he quickly traveled to London to share the news with the king. On 16 August, he was officially given the higher title of Viscount Stormont.
David Murray died on 27 August 1631. He was buried at Scone, where he had built a monument to himself. The monument was designed by a famous sculptor named Maximilian Colt in 1618.
His epitaph, or inscription on his tomb, at Scone says that he helped his friends and that his buildings showed he was clever. It also says that good people knew he loved doing what was right, and bad people knew he upheld justice. He founded a hospital and built a church.
Family
David Murray and his wife, Elizabeth Beaton, did not have any children of their own. To make sure his titles and lands would continue in the family, he arranged for his titles to pass to Sir Mungo Murray. Sir Mungo was the son of John Murray, 1st Earl of Tullibardine, and had married David Murray's niece, Anne. To keep his family line of Balvaird going, he also adopted his cousin's son, Sir Andrew Murray.
