Alexander Murray of Drumdewan

Alexander Murray of Drumdewan (died 1599) was a Scottish courtier and soldier.

He was a younger son of William Murray of Tullibardine and Agnes Graham, a daughter of William Graham, 2nd Earl of Montrose and Janet Keith. William Murray was a Master of the Household to James VI of Scotland.[1] His aunt was the influential Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar.

His own lands were at Drumdewan, near Dull, Perth and Kinross. He was made a gentleman of the king's forechamber in June 1580.[2]

He took over a command in the Dutch service from his brother William Murray of Pitcairlie in 1588.[3]

His nieces, Anne Murray and Lilias Murray were ladies in waiting to Anne of Denmark, the wife of James VI. On 15/25 September 1594, Anne of Denmark met two Dutch ambassadors, Walraven III van Brederode and Jacob Valck, and recommended the services of Alexander Murray to them.[4]

He commanded a regiment for Prince Maurice at the Battle of Turnhout (1597). He was killed at the siege of Bommel on 19 May 1599.[5]

References

1. Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1581-1583, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1910), p. 560: Amy Juhala, 'For the King Favours Them Very Strangely', in Miles Kerr-Peterson and Steven J. Reid, James VI and Noble Power (Routledge: Abingdon, 2017), p. 173.
2. Steven J. Reid, The Early Life of James VI, A Long Apprenticeship (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2023), p. 140.
3. James Ferguson, Papers illustrating the history of the Scots brigade, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 50.
4. James Ferguson, Papers illustrating the history of the Scots brigade, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 170.
5. David Dobson, Scots-Dutch Links in Europe and America, 1575-1825, vol. 1 (Baltimore, 2004), p. 100.

External links

• Alexander Murray of Drumdewan, SSNE