Patrick Murray, 1st Lord Elibank facts for kids

Patrick Murray, 1st Lord Elibank was an important Scottish nobleman. He lived a long time ago, from sometime before 1649 until November 12, 1649. He was a peer, which means he held a special high rank in society, similar to a lord or baron.

Patrick Murray's Life and Titles

Patrick Murray was the son of Sir Gideon Murray and Margaret Pentland. In 1628, he received a special title called a Baronet of Elibank. This was part of the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, a way for the King to raise money by selling titles.

Later, in 1643, he became Lord Elibank. This new title was part of the Peerage of Scotland. It meant he was a powerful figure in the Scottish Parliament. Lord Elibank was one of only six peers who disagreed with handing over King Charles I to the English Parliament. This was a very big decision at the time!

Even though his family originally came from a different area, they lived at a place called Livingston Peel, near Livingston Village. Patrick Murray passed away on November 12, 1649.

Family Life

Patrick Murray was married four times. His first wife was Margaret Hamilton. His second wife was Elizabeth Dundas. They had children, including his son and heir, Patrick Murray, who later became the 2nd Lord Elibank. His third wife was Helen Lindsay, and his fourth wife was Agnes Nicolson.

Patrick Murray, 2nd Lord Elibank: A Love for Plants

Patrick Murray (1632–1671) was the son who inherited his father's title. He married Elizabeth Stewart.

This Patrick Murray was very interested in plants and nature. He was a good friend to two famous Scottish scientists: Sir Robert Sibbald, a botanist and doctor, and Sir Andrew Balfour, another botanist.

The Curious Garden

The 2nd Lord Elibank had an amazing garden known as "the curious garden." It was filled with over 1,000 different plants! He collected these plants during his travels across Scotland. He also received seeds from friends in other countries. People said his garden was designed like an Italian water garden. It was watered by a nearby stream called the Folly Burn.

Travels and Discoveries

Inspired by his friends Sibbald and Balfour, who had traveled a lot, Patrick Murray decided to go on a grand tour himself. He started his journey on September 2, 1668. He visited many beautiful gardens, waterways, and canals. He even saw The King's Garden in Paris, which he described as "the most complete that is in the world."

Sadly, he never made it back home to use his new ideas for his own garden. He passed away in Avignon, France, in early September 1671, while on his way to Italy.

Saving the Plant Collection

When Balfour and Sibbald heard about their friend's death, they traveled to Livingston Peel. They carefully organized the moving of his huge plant collection to Edinburgh. The plants were first taken to a spot where Waverley Station is now. Later, in 1763, the collection was moved again to a new location on Leith Walk.