Alexander Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank
Encyclopedia
Alexander William Charles Oliphant Murray, 1st Baron Murray of Elibank PC (12 April 1870 – 13 September 1920), called The Master of Elibank between 1871 and 1912, was a Scottish nobleman and Liberal
politician. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
(Chief Government Whip) under H. H. Asquith
between 1910 and 1912, when he was forced to resign after being implicated in the Marconi scandal
.
.
in May 1895, Peebles and Selkirk
in July 1895 and the City of York
by-election of 1900. However, in October 1900 he was successfully returned to parliament for Midlothian, a seat he held until 1906 and again from 1910 to 1912. From 1906 to 1910 he represented Peebles and Selkirk
.
When the Liberals came to power in December 1905 under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
, Elibank was appointed Comptroller of the Household
, a post he retained when H. H. Asquith
became Prime Minister in April 1908, and then served as Under-Secretary of State for India
between 1909 and 1910. The latter year he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
(Chief Government Whip). In 1911 he was sworn of the Privy Council. However, he was forced to resign in August 1912 after being accused of insider trading
in the Marconi scandal
. Later the same month he was raised to the peerage as Baron Murray of Elibank, of Elibank in the County of Selkirk.
Apart from his political career Elibank was a partner in S. Pearson and Son Ltd
.
eventually succeeded in the viscountcy of Elibank. Lady Murray of Elibank died in September 1929.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is a junior ministerial position in the British Government. The holder is usually the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons. However, the office is no longer attached to the Treasury...
(Chief Government Whip) under H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
between 1910 and 1912, when he was forced to resign after being implicated in the Marconi scandal
Marconi scandal
The Marconi scandal was a British political scandal that broke in the summer of 1912. It centred on allegations that highly-placed members of the Liberal government, under H. H...
.
Background and education
Elibank was the eldest son of Montolieu Oliphant-Murray, 1st Viscount Elibank, and Blanche Alice, daughter of Edward John Scott. He was educated at CheltenhamCheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
.
Political career
Elibank unsuccessfully contested Edinburgh WestEdinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh West is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom , first used in the 1885 general election...
in May 1895, Peebles and Selkirk
Peebles and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)
Peebles and Selkirk was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.- Boundaries :...
in July 1895 and the City of York
City of York (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of York was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
by-election of 1900. However, in October 1900 he was successfully returned to parliament for Midlothian, a seat he held until 1906 and again from 1910 to 1912. From 1906 to 1910 he represented Peebles and Selkirk
Peeblesshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Peeblesshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1868. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.-Boundaries:...
.
When the Liberals came to power in December 1905 under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
, Elibank was appointed Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
, a post he retained when H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
became Prime Minister in April 1908, and then served as Under-Secretary of State for India
Under-Secretary of State for India
This is a list of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State and Permanent Under-Secretaries of State at the India Office during the period of British rule between 1866 and 1948, and for Burma from 1858-1948....
between 1909 and 1910. The latter year he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is a junior ministerial position in the British Government. The holder is usually the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons. However, the office is no longer attached to the Treasury...
(Chief Government Whip). In 1911 he was sworn of the Privy Council. However, he was forced to resign in August 1912 after being accused of insider trading
Insider trading
Insider trading is the trading of a corporation's stock or other securities by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company...
in the Marconi scandal
Marconi scandal
The Marconi scandal was a British political scandal that broke in the summer of 1912. It centred on allegations that highly-placed members of the Liberal government, under H. H...
. Later the same month he was raised to the peerage as Baron Murray of Elibank, of Elibank in the County of Selkirk.
Apart from his political career Elibank was a partner in S. Pearson and Son Ltd
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
.
Personal life
Lord Murray of Elibank married Hilda Louisa Janey, daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir James Wolfe Murray, in 1894. They had no children. He died in September 1920, aged 50, predeceasing his father by seven years. The barony of Murray of Elibank became extinct on his death while his younger brother GideonGideon Oliphant-Murray, 2nd Viscount Elibank
Gideon Oliphant-Murray, 2nd Viscount Elibank was a Scottish politician and nobleman, inheriting the viscountcy as the eldest surviving son of 1st Viscount Elibank....
eventually succeeded in the viscountcy of Elibank. Lady Murray of Elibank died in September 1929.