MURRAY, Sir Robert, one of the founders of the Royal Society, was the son of Sir Robert Murray of Craigie, and was born about the beginning of the seventeenth century. After serving in the French army, and rising to the rank of colonel, he returned to Scotland during the civil broils, and became an ardent and trustworthy supporter of Charles II. The downfall of the royal cause compelled him to betake himself once more to France. He appears to have dwelt there, and to have held a commission in the French army until Charles II. placed himself at the head of the Scots in 1650. His loyalty was rewarded in the following year by his being promoted to the important offices of justice-clerk and a lord of session in Scotland. These appointments, rendered null and void by the complete overthrow of the King's cause at Worcester, were confirmed on the restoration in 1660. It was at this time that Sir Robert Murray began to take a prominent part in a small club that had been founded by Robert Boyle, Lord Brouncker, and others, for the discussion of natural science, or, as it was then called, "the New Philosophy." He was present at the meeting of the 28th November 1660, when it was proposed
Murray. "that some course might be thought of to improve this meeting to a more regular way of debating things." He undertook to advocate this proposal to the court. His suit was successful; an encouraging answer was returned by the government; and on the 15th July 1662 the club was incorporated by charter under the designation of "The Royal Society." Sir Robert was its first president. During the rest of his life he continued to be one of its most active members, and delivered before it several learned papers. He died in June 1673. Sir Robert Murray is described by Burnet, in his History of My Own Times, as "the wisest and worthiest man of that age."