John Murray of Broughton
Encyclopedia
Sir John Murray of Broughton, 7th Baronet Stanhope (c. 1718 – December 6, 1777) was a Jacobite
, who served as secretary to Prince Charles Edward Stuart
('Bonnie Prince Charlie') during the Jacobite Rising of 1745
. He later earned the undying hatred of the Jacobites by turning King's evidence.
John Murray was born in Broughton in the Scottish Borders
the son of Sir David Murray of Broughton, and Margaret Scott - a family long associated with the Stuart cause. In 1732 he was enrolled in the University of Edinburgh
, then in 1735 he travelled to the Dutch University of Leyden. From there he went to the Stuart court-in-exile in Rome
, where he became a confidant of Prince Charles. In 1738, he returned to Edinburgh
and reacquired the ancestral estate of Broughton (which had been sold to pay family fines for their involvement with the Royalist cause during the Cromwellian period). He married Margaret Ferguson, who became a Jacobite heroine in her own right, by whom he had five children.
in August 1745, when Prince Charles arrived in Moidart
and raised the Jacobite standard. His first response was to attempt to dissuade Charles from staying, but was subsequently persuaded of his duty to support the Prince. On 25th of August he was appointed secretary to Charles, and apparently from that point insisted on being addressed as 'Mr. Secretary Murray'. One of his roles as Secretary was to collect, extort and borrow money for the Prince. But he was also involved in the military endeavor. He was present at the Battle of Prestonpans
and, when the Jacobite forces invaded England, he was sent by the Prince to negotiate the surrender of Carlisle. However, he was later among those who fatefully persuaded Charles to halt his march south at Derby
, and return to Scotland.
During March 1746, when things had started going awry for the Jacobites, Murray apparently fell ill, and later went into hiding to avoid arrest causing some to accuse him of desertion. On the day of the Battle of Culloden
he had to be carried across Loch Ness
to Glenmoriston, from where he learned of the disastrous Jacobite defeat. Shortly afterwards, Murray went to meet French ships which were belatedly bringing money to the Jacobites, and he took possession of the gold that became known as the Loch Arkaig treasure
. Murray then traveled back to Peeblesshire, apparently with a view to escaping to Holland. However, on June 27, at the home of his sister, Veronica Murray Hunter of Polmood
, he was captured.
, rather than a rebel. However, on July 7, before this could be arranged, Murray was dispatched to the Tower of London
. Here, charged with high treason
, Murray turned King's evidence and informed on his Jacobite colleagues. His testimony was critical in the 1747 trial and execution of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat
, chief of the Clan Fraser
.
Murray was given a full pardon by the British Crown in June 1748 and, perhaps unsurprisingly given his notoriety in Scotland, chose to remain in England. He was held in disdain by his Jacobite compatriots, referred to scathingly as "Mr. Evidence Murray". In 1753 the town of Paisley
raised an action against him for £500, a sum they had paid under duress to the Jacobites in 1745. However, he successfully resisted this in terms of his pardon and the Act of Indemnity 1747. Curiously, years later in 1763, Prince Charles paid a covert visit to Murray who, despite his betrayal, remained a convinced Jacobite.
However, Murray's infamy can perhaps be illustrated by the story of his business dealing with his solicitor
(who happened to be Sir Walter Scott
's father). According to Walter Scott, Murray would enter the house of an evening and be quickly hurried into the study, his identity concealed from the rest of the household. After a number of these meeting, Mrs Scott's curiosity got the better of her, and so she took tea to her husband and the mysterious guest. Murray accepted the offer, but her husband declined. When Murray left, Scott threw the cup out of the window, exclaiming
In 1764, Murray's Broughton estates were sold (as were those other Jacobite sympathisers) by order of the Court of Session
. In 1775 Broughton House burned to the ground. (Today Broughton Place, with the Broughton gallery, stands in its place.) Sir John Murray died at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
on 6 December 1777 and is buried at the St Marylebone Cemetery in East Finchley
, north west London.
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
, who served as secretary to Prince Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
('Bonnie Prince Charlie') during the Jacobite Rising of 1745
Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
. He later earned the undying hatred of the Jacobites by turning King's evidence.
John Murray was born in Broughton in the Scottish Borders
Border Country
Border Country is a novel by Raymond Williams. The book was re-published in December 2005 as one of the first group of titles in the Library of Wales series, having been out of print for several years. Written in English, the novel was first published in 1960.It is set in rural South Wales, close...
the son of Sir David Murray of Broughton, and Margaret Scott - a family long associated with the Stuart cause. In 1732 he was enrolled in the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, then in 1735 he travelled to the Dutch University of Leyden. From there he went to the Stuart court-in-exile in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he became a confidant of Prince Charles. In 1738, he returned to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and reacquired the ancestral estate of Broughton (which had been sold to pay family fines for their involvement with the Royalist cause during the Cromwellian period). He married Margaret Ferguson, who became a Jacobite heroine in her own right, by whom he had five children.
Jacobite rebellion
Around 1739 he became the conduit between the exiled Prince Charles in Rome and the Jacobites in Scotland. He traveled to Paris in March 1743 on behalf of a number of Highland Jacobites to sound out French support for the Stuart cause - and appears to have been duped by false French assurances, whilst at the same time presenting an exaggerated picture to the French of the support in Scotland. He was in PeeblesshirePeeblesshire
Peeblesshire , the County of Peebles or Tweeddale was a county of Scotland. Its main town was Peebles, and it bordered Midlothian to the north, Selkirkshire to the east, Dumfriesshire to the south, and Lanarkshire to the west.After the local government reorganisation of 1975 the use of the name...
in August 1745, when Prince Charles arrived in Moidart
Moidart
Moidart is a district in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland.Moidart lies to the west of Fort William and is very remote. Loch Shiel cuts off the south-east boundary of the district. Moidart includes the townships of Dorlin, Mingarry, Kinlochmoidart and Glenuig. At Dorlin is located the ancient fortress...
and raised the Jacobite standard. His first response was to attempt to dissuade Charles from staying, but was subsequently persuaded of his duty to support the Prince. On 25th of August he was appointed secretary to Charles, and apparently from that point insisted on being addressed as 'Mr. Secretary Murray'. One of his roles as Secretary was to collect, extort and borrow money for the Prince. But he was also involved in the military endeavor. He was present at the Battle of Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
and, when the Jacobite forces invaded England, he was sent by the Prince to negotiate the surrender of Carlisle. However, he was later among those who fatefully persuaded Charles to halt his march south at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, and return to Scotland.
During March 1746, when things had started going awry for the Jacobites, Murray apparently fell ill, and later went into hiding to avoid arrest causing some to accuse him of desertion. On the day of the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
he had to be carried across Loch Ness
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately southwest of Inverness. Its surface is above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie"...
to Glenmoriston, from where he learned of the disastrous Jacobite defeat. Shortly afterwards, Murray went to meet French ships which were belatedly bringing money to the Jacobites, and he took possession of the gold that became known as the Loch Arkaig treasure
Loch Arkaig treasure
The treasure of Loch Arkaig, sometimes known as the Jacobite Gold, was a large amount of specie provided by Spain to finance the Jacobite rising in Scotland in 1745, and rumoured still to be hidden at Loch Arkaig in Lochaber.-Background:...
. Murray then traveled back to Peeblesshire, apparently with a view to escaping to Holland. However, on June 27, at the home of his sister, Veronica Murray Hunter of Polmood
Polmood
Polmood is a small settlement in southern Scotland near Tweedsmuir in the Scottish Borders, in the valley of the River Tweed.Polmood was for many centuries the centre of the Hunter family in the lowlands and the earliest record was a charter dated 1057 to Norman Hunter of Polmood. It was once a...
, he was captured.
Traitor?
Charles attempted to secure Murray a commission in the Army of France. This would have ensured that he would have been treated as a prisoner of warPrisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, rather than a rebel. However, on July 7, before this could be arranged, Murray was dispatched to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. Here, charged with high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, Murray turned King's evidence and informed on his Jacobite colleagues. His testimony was critical in the 1747 trial and execution of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat
Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat
Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat , was a Scottish Jacobite and Chief of Clan Fraser, who was famous for his violent feuding and his changes of allegiance. In 1715, he had been a supporter of the House of Hanover, but in 1745 he changed sides and supported the Stuart claim on the crown of Scotland...
, chief of the Clan Fraser
Clan Fraser
Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of French origin. The Clan has been strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gained lands there in the 13th century. Since its founding, the Clan has dominated local politics and been active in every major military conflict...
.
Murray was given a full pardon by the British Crown in June 1748 and, perhaps unsurprisingly given his notoriety in Scotland, chose to remain in England. He was held in disdain by his Jacobite compatriots, referred to scathingly as "Mr. Evidence Murray". In 1753 the town of Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
raised an action against him for £500, a sum they had paid under duress to the Jacobites in 1745. However, he successfully resisted this in terms of his pardon and the Act of Indemnity 1747. Curiously, years later in 1763, Prince Charles paid a covert visit to Murray who, despite his betrayal, remained a convinced Jacobite.
However, Murray's infamy can perhaps be illustrated by the story of his business dealing with his solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
(who happened to be Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's father). According to Walter Scott, Murray would enter the house of an evening and be quickly hurried into the study, his identity concealed from the rest of the household. After a number of these meeting, Mrs Scott's curiosity got the better of her, and so she took tea to her husband and the mysterious guest. Murray accepted the offer, but her husband declined. When Murray left, Scott threw the cup out of the window, exclaiming
"I can forgive your little curiosity, madam, but you must pay the penalty. I may admit into my house, on a piece of business, persons wholly unworthy to be treated as guests by my wife. Neither lip of me nor of mine comes after Mr. Murray of Broughton's."
In 1764, Murray's Broughton estates were sold (as were those other Jacobite sympathisers) by order of the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
. In 1775 Broughton House burned to the ground. (Today Broughton Place, with the Broughton gallery, stands in its place.) Sir John Murray died at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
Cheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
on 6 December 1777 and is buried at the St Marylebone Cemetery in East Finchley
East Finchley
East Finchley is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, in north London, and situated north-west of Charing Cross. Geographically it is somewhat separate from the rest of Finchley, with North Finchley and West Finchley to the north, and Finchley Central to the west.- History :The land on which...
, north west London.