George W. Murray

George Washington Murray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 7th district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	William Elliot
Succeeded by	J. William Stokes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 1st district
In office June 4, 1896 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	William Elliot
Succeeded by	J. William Stokes
Personal details
Born	September 22, 1853 Sumter County, South Carolina
Died	April 21, 1926 Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	African American
Political party	Republican

George Washington Murray (September 22, 1853 - April 21, 1926) was born a slave and served as a Congressman from South Carolina.

He was born a slave near Rembert, Sumter County, South Carolina on September 22, 1853. Murray attended the public schools and the University of South Carolina at Columbia for two years. He taught school for fifteen years in Sumter County.

He played an important role in the Republican Party. He was chairman of the Sumter County Republican Party. He was known as the "Republican Black Eagle." Murray was a delegate at several Republican National Conventions. He lectured for the Colored Farmers Alliance.

Murray was an inspector of customs at the port of Charleston, South Carolina from 1890 to 1892. He was elected as a Republican representing South Carolina's 7th congressional district in the Fifty-third Congress (March 4, 1893 - March 3, 1895). Due to redistricting, he ran in South Carolina's 1st congressional district in 1894. Although he lost the popular vote to William Elliott, he successfully contested the election and served in the Fifty-fourth Congress from June 4, 1896 to March 3, 1897.

Murray engaged in the real estate business in Sumter County. In 1903, he was charged with forging names on lease agreements. He was convicted in 1905.

Instead of serving his sentence, he moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1905 where he sold life insurance and real estate. He was active in the Illinois Republican Party and an ally of Chicago Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson.

He was pardoned by South Carolina Governor Coleman Blease in 1915. He died in Chicago, Illinois, April 21, 1926. He is buried in Lincoln Cemetery.

Current Democratic South Carolina congressman and Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn is one of his relatives.

Murray would be the last Black Republican to serve in Congress from South Carolina until Tim Scott was elected in 2010.

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William Elliot	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 7th congressional district March 4, 1893 - March 3, 1895	Succeeded by J. William Stokes
Preceded by William Elliot	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 1st congressional district June 4, 1896- March 3, 1897	Succeeded by William Elliot

Bibliography

Murray, George Washington. Race Ideals: Effects, Cause, and Remedy for the Afro-American Race Troubles. Princeton, Indiana: Smith & Sons Publishing Company, 1914.

• George W. Murray at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress