Keith Murray, Baron Murray of Newhaven
Encyclopedia
Keith Anderson Hope Murray, Baron Murray of Newhaven KCB
(28 July 1903, Edinburgh
, Scotland
– 10 October 1993, London)' was a British
academic and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford
.
and the University of Edinburgh
where he gained a BSc
in Agriculture, Murray went into employment with the Ministry of Agriculture
from 1925 to 1926. He was then awarded a Commonwealth Fund Fellowship
, and spent three years at Cornell University
where he was awarded a PhD
.
In 1929 he attended Oriel College, Oxford and the Agricultural Economics Research Institute (AERI) until 1932.
of Lincoln College, Oxford
, as well as being appointed by the University to Oxford City Council
. On the death of the Rector J. A. R. Munro in 1944, he was elected to the Rectorship, a position he held until his retirement in 1953. He became the first Rector since Nathaniel Crew
not to die in office.
On his retirement from the Rectorship, Rab Butler
, the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer
, appointed him Chairman of the University Grants Committee, a post he held for a decade.
In 1957, Sir Robert Menzies
, the Australian Prime Minister, asked him to serve on the Committee on Australian Universities. He was Vice President of Wellington College
(1966–69), Honorary President of the National Union of Students (1967–70).
He was Chairman of the Committee of Enquiry into the Governance of the University of London
(1970–72) which produced the Murray Report. This led to the merger of several of the constituent colleges of the university such as Royal Holloway College and Bedford College
under the leadership of their principals
Dr Roy Miller
and Professor Dorothy Wedderburn.
He was Chancellor
, of Southampton University, 1964–74.
He was Chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
(1962–71).
He held Honorary Fellowships of Downing College, Cambridge
, Oriel College, Oxford, Birkbeck College, London
, and Lincoln College, Oxford. In 1964, he was created a life peer
as Baron Murray of Newhaven, of Newhaven in the County and City of Edinburgh.
The Keith Murray Senior Scholarship at Lincoln College is named in his memory.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(28 July 1903, 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...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
– 10 October 1993, London)' was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
.
Education
Educated at Edinburgh AcademyEdinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and 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...
where he gained a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Agriculture, Murray went into employment with the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
from 1925 to 1926. He was then awarded a Commonwealth Fund Fellowship
Harkness Fellowship
The Harkness Fellowships are a programme run by the Commonwealth Fund of New York City. They were established to reciprocate the Rhodes Scholarships and enable Fellows from several countries to spend time studying in the United States...
, and spent three years at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
where he was awarded a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
.
In 1929 he attended Oriel College, Oxford and the Agricultural Economics Research Institute (AERI) until 1932.
Career
He became a Research Officer for the AERI, a post he held until 1944. In 1937, however, he was appointed a Fellow and BursarBursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
of Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, as well as being appointed by the University to Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
. On the death of the Rector J. A. R. Munro in 1944, he was elected to the Rectorship, a position he held until his retirement in 1953. He became the first Rector since Nathaniel Crew
Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew
Nathanial Crew, 3rd Baron Crew was Bishop of Oxford from 1671 to 1674, then Bishop of Durham from 1674 to 1721. As such he was one of the longest serving bishops of the Church of England....
not to die in office.
On his retirement from the Rectorship, Rab Butler
Rab Butler
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician...
, the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, appointed him Chairman of the University Grants Committee, a post he held for a decade.
In 1957, Sir Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, the Australian Prime Minister, asked him to serve on the Committee on Australian Universities. He was Vice President of Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
(1966–69), Honorary President of the National Union of Students (1967–70).
He was Chairman of the Committee of Enquiry into the Governance of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(1970–72) which produced the Murray Report. This led to the merger of several of the constituent colleges of the university such as Royal Holloway College and Bedford College
Bedford College
Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as a higher education college for the education of women. It was the first institution of its type for women in the United Kingdom. In 1900, the college became a constituent school of the University of London. It played a leading role in the advancement...
under the leadership of their principals
Principal (academia)
The Principal is the chief executive and the chief academic officer of a university or college in certain parts of the Commonwealth.-Canada:...
Dr Roy Miller
Roy Miller (principal)
Roy Frank Miller is a British academic, educator, physicist and university administrator. He was Principal of Royal Holloway College, University of London from 1982-85.-Education:He was educated at Wembley County Grammar School...
and Professor Dorothy Wedderburn.
He was Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
, of Southampton University, 1964–74.
He was Chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 is an institution founded in 1850 to administer the international exhibition of 1851, officially called the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, held in The Crystal Palace in London, England...
(1962–71).
He held Honorary Fellowships of Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, Oriel College, Oxford, Birkbeck College, London
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
, and Lincoln College, Oxford. In 1964, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Murray of Newhaven, of Newhaven in the County and City of Edinburgh.
The Keith Murray Senior Scholarship at Lincoln College is named in his memory.