Alexander Murray of Broughton

1. IIlegitmate son of James Murray of Broughton (1727-1799) and Grace Johnston, his father was MP for Wigtonshire 18/03/1762-1768 and Kirkcudbright Stewartry 1768-1774. James Murray married Lady Catherine Stewart, daughter of Alexander, 6th Earl of Galloway, 24/04/1752, but scandalised his friends by absconding with Grace Johnston, the sister of his political adversary Peter Johnston, in 1785. Alexander was their illegitimate son, who inherited Calley House at Gatehouse of Fleet and Orleans House in London as well as considerable estates in Wigtownshire and County Donegal on the death of his father in 1799.

2. Alexander Murray married Lady Anne Bingham, daughter of Richard Bingham, 2nd Earl of Lucan and Lady Elizabeth Belasyse, 18/07/1816. He died 15/07/1845. Lady Anne Murray died in 1850. There were no children. The estates went to Horatio Granville Stewart (from 1846, Horatio Granville Stewart Murray).

3. Owned the lands of Girthon parish, in Kirkcudbright. Made improvements to Calley estate; aconsiderable collector of art; bankruptcy after his death.

4. An obituary claimed that 'There is not, we believe, a family on his extensive estates, by whom his premature decease will not be deeply and sincerely mourned. . . They have lost a benefactor. . .'

1. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/murray-james-1727-99 [accessed 04/11/2011].

2. http://thepeerage.com/p2477.htm#i24763 [accessed 04/11/2011]. Times 05/11/1850: p. 9 death at Twickenham of Right Hon. Lady Anne Murray, widow of late Alexander Murray of Broughton Scotland.

3. See Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (2 vols, London, 1846).

4. Glasgow Herald, 25 July 1845.

For the papers of the Murray family see the Scottish Archive Network. Online Catalogue