Author: Murray, John
Biography:
MURRAY, John (1737-93: ODNB)
Holy-Rood House is attributed by ESTC to John Murray, founder of the London-based publishing dynasty. He was born John McMurray in Edinburgh to Robert McMurray, a lawyer, and his wife Jean Ross. He spent one term at Edinburgh University in 1752 before joining the marines in 1753. He earned a commission in 1762 but retired in 1763 after the Seven Years War. In the same year he married Nancy Weems in Chatham; they had no children. Murray returned to Scotland seeking employment in the 1760s and, trying a literary career, published a novel, The History of Sir Launcelot Edgevile, in the Court Magazine. It failed to make much impact and he returned to London where he dropped “Mc” from his name and, in 1768, purchased the bookselling business of William Sandby. Murray proved a shrewd businessman and he took advantage of the 1774 House of Lords decision on perpetual copyright to expand his business by issuing reprints. He also invested successfully in periodical publications, notably the English Review. He continued to write, issuing pamphlets on contemporary issues of importance to him. Two years after his wife’s 1776 death he married her younger sister, Hester; of their nine children just three survived. Murray suffered a stroke in 1782 but he recovered and eventually died at home on 6 Nov. 1793. Hester and, later, John Samuel Murray, their only surviving son, carried on the business. (ODNB 30 Apr. 2021)
Other Names:
- Mr. Murray
- Mr. [John] Murray