Education
Born into a working-class family in the parish of Girthon, Kirkcudbrightshire, Murray was educated at the parish school, and at Edinburgh University, which he entered in 1810.
Born into a working-class family in the parish of Girthon, Kirkcudbrightshire, Murray was educated at the parish school, and at Edinburgh University, which he entered in 1810.
His most noted work is The Literary History of Galloway. He became connected with Sir David Brewster and the staff of writers on Brewster"s Cyclopædia, and from contact with Leonard Horner and John Ramsay McCulloch became interested in political economy. In the 1830s he is listed as living at 3 Albany Street in Edinburgh"s New Town.
In 1841 Murray established in Edinburgh the printing business of Murray & Gibb, successful, and later becoming Morrison & Gibb.
He died on 15 April 1872 at Elm Bank, near Lasswade, on 15 April 1872.
In 1843 he was one of the founders, and for many years afterwards (1843-1872) secretary, of the Edinburgh Galloway Association. In 1846 he was one of the founders and original members of the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution (of which Thomas Carlyle was president till his death), and acted for about 30 years as secretary of the Edinburgh School of Arts (1844-1872). Foreign six years (1854-1860) he was a member of the Edinburgh town council, where he acted with the Whig or moderate Liberal party.