MILITARY
(Contd.)
and when he stood second only to the Duke of Wellington in British Army ranking. On that point I shall touch more fully in a subsequent article. To-day I propose to give a report, taken from an old chronicle, of Sir George Murray's death, and a portion of the obituary notice relating to his distinguished career. The remainder will be given to-morrow.
The following is extracted from The Friend of China and Hong Kong Gazette, of November 18th, 1846:
We have to record the decease of an officer who, with the signal exceptions of his Grace, the Duke of Wellington, and his kinsman the Marquis of Anglesea, has been looked upon as the most celebrated of our military commanders. The melancholy event took place in the presence of several of the gallant veteran's relatives and friends.
The deceased, for some years, gave up a great portion of his time to the completion of one of the most important military publications of the day, viz., "The Despatches of the Duke of Marlborough." This work he edited with the greatest possible care; but its completion was unfortunately the prelude to an illness which, after more than eighteen months' duration, has proved fatal. More than three attacks of the disorder with which he was afflicted yielded to medical treatment, and, during the last twelve months, though the deceased had not been able to attend the Ordnance Office, he nevertheless discharged the duties of Master-General very efficiently, at his residence in Belgrave Square, up to the retirement of Sir R. Peel.
The name of Sir George Murray is familiar to all from his long and gallant service in the field, as well as from his political connection with several Cabinets. He was born in 1772 at the family seat in Perthshire, being the second son of Sir William Murray, Bart., by the youngest daughter of the third Earl of Cromartie. He married, in 1826, the relict of Lieutenant-General Sir J. Erskine, Bart., daughter of the first Earl of Uxbridge, and sister to the present Marquis of Anglesea. This lady, by whom he had issue one daughter, died in 1842.
Sir George Murray entered the army in 1782, his first commission being dated March 12, in that year, and his other promotions in the following order:
Captain, June 16, 1794; Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, August 5, 1799; Colonel, March 9, 1809; Major-General, Jan. 1, 1812; Lieutenant-General, May 27, 1825; General, Nov. 23, 1841; Colonel of the 42nd Highlanders, 1823; Colonel of the 1st Royals (now, of course, vacant) Dec. 29, 1843. His other military appointments were - Governor of Sandhurst College, from 1818 to 1824; Lieut.-General of the Ordnance, from 1824 to 1825; Commander of the Forces in Ireland, from 1825 to 1828; Master-General of the Ordnance, 1834-5; re-appointed to the office in 1841; Governor of Fort George in Inverness, from 1829 to his death in 1846.
At the period of Sir George Murray's entrance into the army the French Revolution had commenced, but it was not until a few years later, when France had guillotined her King, and declared war with all the monarchs and aristocrats of the world, that England entered into the war, of which the long duration and stupendous results were so little foreseen by either of the Powers engaged. In one of the early movements of that war Sir George Murray actively and prominently engaged. We may first mention the campaign in Holland, in 1794-95, where he served in the 3d Guards; and was present at the affair of St. Amand
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MILITARY
يه
(Contd.)
and when he stood second only to the Duke of Wellington in British Army ranking. On that point I shall touch more fully in a subsequent article. To-day I propose to give a report, taken
from an old chronicle, of Sir George Murray's death, and a portion of the abituary notice relating to his distinguished career. The remainder will be given to-morrow.
*
**
*
The following is extracted from The Friend of China and Hong Kong Gazette, of November 18th, 1846:
We have to record the decease of an officer who, with the signal exceptions of his Grace. the Duke of Wellington, and his kinsman the Marquis of Anglesea, has been looked upon as the most celebrated of our military commanders. The melancholy event took place in the presence of several of the gallant veteran's relatives and friends.
The deceased, for some years, gave up a great portion of his time to the completion of one of the most important military. publications of the day, viz., "The Despatches of the Duke of Marlborough." This work he edited with the greatest possible care; but its completion was unfortunately the prelude to an illness which, after more than eighteen months duration, has proved fatal. More than three attacks of the disorder with which he was afflicted yielded to medical treatment, and, during the last twelve months, though the deceased had not been able to attend the Ordnance Office, he nevertheless discharged the duties of Master-General very efficiently, at his résidence in Belgrave Square, up to the retirement of Sir R. Peel.
The name of Sir George Murray is familiar to all from his long and gallant service in the field, as well as from his political connection with several Cabinets. He was born in 1772 at the family seat in perthshire, being the second son of Sir William Murray, Bart. by the youngest daughter of the third Earl of Cromartie. He married, in 1826, the relict of Lieutenant- General Sir J. Erskine, Bart, daughter of the first Earl of Uxbridge, and sister to the present Marquis of Anglesea. This lady, by whom he had issue one daughter, died in 1842.
Sir George Murray entered the army in 1782, his first commission being dated March 12, in that year, and his other in the following order:
Captain, June 16, 1794; Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, August 5, 1799; Colonel, March 9, 1809; Major-General, Jan. 1, 1812; Lieutenant-General, May 27, 1825; General No. 23, 1841; Colonel of the 42nd. Highlanders, 1823; Colonel of the 1st. Royals (now, of course, vacant) Dec. 29, 1843. His other military appointments were - Governor of Sandhurst College, from 1818 to 1824; Lieut. General of the Ordnance, from 1824 to 1825; Commander of the Forces in Ireland, from 1825 to 1828; Master-General of the Ordnance, 1834-5; re-appointed to the office in 1841; Governor of Fort George in Inverness, from 1829 to his death in 1846.
*
*
At the period of Sir George Murray's entrance into the army the French revolution had commenced, but it was not until a few years later, when France had guilotined her King, and declared war with all the monarchs and aristocrates of the world, that England entered into the war, of which the long duration and stupendous results were so little foreseen by either of the Powers engaged. In one of the early movements of that war Sir George Murray activley and prominently engaged. We may first mention the campaign in Holland, in 1795-94, where he served in the 3d. Guards; and was present at the affair of St. Amand
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