Charles Wyndham Murray

Charles Wyndham Murray
Born	22 February 1844(1844-02-22)
Died	1 November 1928(1928-11-01) (aged 84)
Nationality	British
Education	Marlborough College
Occupation	Soldier and politician
Title	Member of Parliament for Bath
Term	1896–1902
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Emma Konarski nee Walker (1890–1922)
Parents	Rev Thomas Boyles Murray and Helen Douglas
Military career
Allegiance	UK
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1862-1890
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	Anglo-Zulu War Second Anglo-Afghan War Battle of Tel el-Kebir

Col Sir Charles Wyndham Murray KCB GCStJ (22 February 1844^[1] – 1 November 1928) was a British Army officer and politician. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament MP for Bath from 1892–1906 and as Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod in the Order of the Bath from 1913 until his death.

Biography

Early life and education

Charles Wyndham Murray was born on 22 February 1844, the son of Rev Thomas Boyles Murray and Helen Douglas, and was educated at Marlborough College.^[1]

Rev Murray served as Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral and is remembered there by a pair of candle holders at the main entrance which were given by Sir Murray in memory of his father.^{[citation needed]}

Career

He began his military career as an Ensign in the 61st South Gloucestershire Regiment in November 1862, promoted to Lieutenant in October 1865 and passed from Staff College in 1872. By October 1877 he was a Captain and in July 1881, a Major. During World War I, he served as military King's Messenger in France.

In 1875, he was appointed Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General in Cork, and then moved to the Intelligence Department in Dublin. In 1878, he moved to Turkey, where he was a military attaché. During the Anglo-Zulu War, he was aide-de-camp to Major General Crealocke (1st Division), then deployed with Clarke's column on reconnaissance missions (medal and clasp). In Spring 1880, he was attached to 72nd Highlanders at Kabul (staff), became orderly officer to General Thomas Durand Baker, taking part in the Logar Valley expedition of May–June 1880.

In 1882, he was involved in the Egyptian war, as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General on the base and lines of communication; he was present at Tel-el-Kebir, gaining the Khedive's Star and 4th Class Osminieh. During 1884-85, he took part in the Bechuanaland operations. He retired from the service in 1890.

He was elected Conservative MP for Bath 1892-1906 and was a member of Carlton and Army and Navy Clubs. His appointments included Chairman of the Japan Society from 1913 to 1918, and he held the Order of the Rising Sun; Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod in the Order of the Bath (1913), and Knight of Justice of the Order of St John.

Marriage and children

He married Emma Cecilia Walker in 1890. Lady Murray, as she was known, died in 1922. Their country seat was 'Culverlands' at Burghfield in Berkshire.

Death and afterward

Culverlands, the former residence of Col. Sir Charles Wyndham Murray, C.B., is an 18th-century house altered and enlarged in 1879. It is a plain plastered building with a balustraded parapet and slate roofs, situated in an elevated well-wooded park, the cedars being particularly fine. The araucarias were raised from seed brought from South America by the late Thomas Bland Garland and are probably the oldest in England grown by this method^[2]

Charles W Murray also wrote a short biography of himself and there is a copy in the Reference section of the Public Library in Bath, England.

Awards and honours

• 1891: Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms^[3]
• 1902: Companion of the Order of the Bath
• 1905: knighted
• 1917: Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath^[4]
• 1927: Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John
• Khedive's Star
• Order of Osminieh 4th class
• Order of the Rising Sun

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Marlborough College register from 1843 to 1904 inclusive (5 ed.). 1905. p. 97. http://books.google.com/books?id=nwkCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA97. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
2. ^ British History Online, parishes: Burghfield
3. ^ Who's Who, 1900. 2009. A & C Black. 1900. p. 34. http://books.google.com/books?id=WFooAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA34. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
4. ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 4 June 1917". London Gazette: p. 5456. 1917-06-04. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30111/supplements/5456/page.pdf. 

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Charles Wyndham Murray
• Portraits of Sir (Charles) Wyndham Murray at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Edmond Wodehouse Robert Laurie	Member of Parliament for Bath 1892 – 1906 With: Edmond Wodehouse	Succeeded by Donald Maclean George Peabody Gooch
Honorary titles
Preceded by	Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod 1913 – 1928	Succeeded by R G A W Stapleton-Cotton

Persondata
Name	Murray, Charles Wyndham
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1844-02-22
Place of birth
Date of death	1928-11-01
Place of death