John Murray

John Murray (4 April 1726 – 28 February 1800), of Philiphaugh, Selkirk, was a British politician who was the Member of Parliament for the Lanark Burghs, between 9 May 1754 and 20 April 1761.

Early life Murray was the second, but eldest surviving son of John Murray and the former Eleanor Hamilton (–1783). His sister, Mary Murray, married Sir Alexander Don, 4th Baronet, and his brother, Charles Murray, was the father of Charles Scott-Murray of Danesfield House, MP for Buckinghamshire. His aunt, Ann Murray, was the wife of John Pringle, Lord Haining. His mother was the eldest daughter of Mary Dunbar and Lord Basil Hamilton (sixth son of William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton and Anne Hamilton, suo jure Duchess of Hamilton).

Murray was educated at Glasgow University in 1742.

Career Early in 1753, his father, who had represented the Lanark Burghs from 1725 to 1734 and Selkirkshire continuously thereafter, informed Newcastle and Pelham that he intended to stand down at the general election in favour of his son, John, and "received their assurances of neutrality in the event of a contest with Gilbert Elliot." Upon his father's death on 2 July 1753, Murray succeeded as laird of Philiphaugh, however, he faced opposition from another, writing to Newcastle:

"The Duke of Argyll ... I believe will use all his interest here against me by laying his orders upon my own cousin german Mr. Andrew Pringle, sheriff of the county, to join in support of Mr. Elliot against me, contrary to his own intention and inclination." "In 1761, Murray declined the costly burghs contest and declared himself a candidate for the county against Gilbert Elliot. When Andrew Pringle was once more induced out of deference to Argyll to give his interest to Elliot, Murray withdrew but again challenged Elliot in 1762 at his re-election on appointment to office. When Bute intervened on Elliot's behalf, Murray withdrew once more. Murray's attempts on Selkirkshire ceased when in 1765 Elliot transferred to Roxburghshire and was succeeded by John Pringle, Murray's cousin." Janet Murray, who married Dennis, Esq. of Jamaica.