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David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield

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The Earl of Mansfield
Lord President of the Council
In office
17 December 1794 – 1 September 1796
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterWilliam Pitt
Preceded byThe Earl FitzWilliam
Succeeded byThe Earl of Chatham
In office
2 April 1783 – 19 December 1783
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Portland
Preceded byThe Lord Camden
Succeeded byThe Earl Gower
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
In office
27 October 1779 – 27 March 1782
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterLord North
Preceded byThe Viscount Weymouth
Succeeded byOffice Abolished
The Earl of Shelburne as Home Secretary
Charles James Fox as Foreign Secretary
Personal details
Born
David Murray

9 October 1727
Died1 September 1796(1796-09-01) (aged 68)

David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield, KT, PC (9 October 1727 – 1 September 1796), known as The Viscount Stormont from 1748 to 1793, was a British politician. He succeeded to both the Mansfield and Stormont lines of the Murray family, inheriting two titles and two fortunes.

Background

Mansfield was the son of David Murray, 6th Viscount of Stormont, and his wife Anne Stewart. Lord Chief Justice William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield was his paternal uncle.

Public life

Mansfield was ambassador to Vienna and Warsaw and then to France in the early years of the American War of Independence, and played a role in sending news of American actions back to England. He had been elected a Scottish Representative Peer in 1754. He was appointed as the last Secretary of State for the Northern Department, serving from 1779 to 1782.

In 1783 he was appointed as Lord President of the Council, and again from 1794 to 1796. He served as Lord Justice General between 1778 and 1795. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1763 and made a Knight of the Thistle in 1768.

Family

Kenwood House, London

Lord Mansfield married firstly Henrietta Frederica, daughter of Henry Graf Bunau, in 1759, whilst he was British ambassador to Saxony. They had one child, Lady Elizabeth Murray. Henrietta died in 1766. A decade later, Mansfield married secondly the Honourable Louisa Cathcart, daughter of Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart, in 1776. Louisa was his junior by more than 30 years, and they had five children — Caroline, David, George, Charles, and Henry.

In 1793 he succeeded his uncle the first Lord Mansfield as the second Earl of Mansfield of the 1792 creation, while his wife succeeded as second Countess of Mansfield of the 1776 creation, according to special remainders in the letters patent. From the 1st Earl he inherited Kenwood House in the London Borough of Camden.

Lord Mansfield died in September 1796 and his body laid to rest with his uncle, the 1st Earl, in Westminster Abbey. [1] His heart was interred in Comlongon Castle. He was succeeded in his titles and to Kenwood House by his eldest son David. His second son, the Honourable George Murray, became a Lieutenant-General in the Army. His fourth son, the Honourable Sir Henry Murray, rose to the rank of General.

The Countess of Mansfield survived her husband by 47 years. She married the Honourable Robert Fulke Greville in 1797 and died in July 1843, aged 85.

References

  1. ^ "William Murray, Lord Mansfield". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British Minister to Saxony
1755–1764
Succeeded by
Preceded by British Ambassador to France
1772–1778
Vacant
Title next held by
Thomas Grenville in 1782
Legal offices
Preceded by Lord Justice General
1778–1795
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State for the Northern Department
1779–1782
Office abolished
Preceded by Leader of the House of Lords
1779–1782
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord President of the Council
1783
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord President of the Council
1794–1796
Succeeded by
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Earl of Mansfield
2nd creation
1793–1796
Succeeded by
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Viscount Stormont
1748–1796
Succeeded by