John Murray of Broughton

After returning to Scotland in December 1738, Murray married Margaret Ferguson and repurchased the family estate of Broughton, later sold in 1764 to James Dickson, a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament.[7] In 1741, the Duke of Hamilton approved his appointment as principal Jacobite agent in Scotland following the death of Colonel James Urquhart.[8]

The outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1740 placed Britain and France on opposing sides and Murray made frequent visits to Paris, carrying messages between Scottish Jacobites and Lord Sempil, the Stuart agent in Paris. Defeat at Dettingen in June 1743 prompted Louis XV to look for ways to divert British resources, including a proposed invasion of England in early 1744 to restore the Stuarts. Charles secretly joined the invasion force in Dunkirk but the attempt was cancelled in March after the French fleet was severely damaged by winter storms.[9]

In August, Charles travelled to Paris to argue for an alternative landing in Scotland, where he met with Murray, telling him he was "determined to come to Scotland, though with a single footman".[10] After his return to Edinburgh in December, Murray shared this news with the pro-Jacobite Buck Club, whose members included James, later 6th Duke of Hamilton and Lord Elcho. They prepared a written declaration urging him not to do so, unless he brought 6,000 French troops, money and weapons; this was given to the 5th Earl of Traquair (1699-1764) for delivery but was never sent.[11]

Prince Charles, painted in Edinburgh, late 1745

In late June, Murray learned Charles was preparing to sail from France and waited in Western Scotland for three weeks, hoping to dissuade him from landing. He eventually gave up and was at home when news came of their arrival at Eriskay on 23 July.[12] After Charles refused to return to France, Murray became Secretary, with responsibility for civilian administration and finances. One way to rise money was to collect existing taxes and many towns paid twice, as the government refused to recognise payments to the Jacobites; in 1753, Paisley unsuccessfully sued Murray for £500 levied in 1745.[13]

The Jacobite army marched on Edinburgh, reaching Perth on 3 September; here they were joined by Lord George Murray, who had participated in the 1715 and 1719 Risings. Pardoned in 1725, he had settled down to life as a Scottish country gentleman; his brother Tullibardine accompanied Charles to Scotland but his eldest son was a British army officer. His defection surprised both sides and many Jacobites viewed him with suspicion, not helped by his poorly concealed view of Charles as a 'reckless adventurer.'[14] Murray was later blamed for the frequent clashes between Charles and his senior Scottish commander, but even admirers recorded Lord George's talents were offset by a quick temper, arrogance and inability to take advice.[15]

Lord George Murray, senior Scottish military commander; many of Charles' advisors regarded him with suspicion

Murray accompanied the army into England and helped negotiate the surrender of Carlisle in November.[16] He was not part of the Prince's War Council and thus avoided responsibility for the decision to retreat at Derby; this marked a major deterioration in the relationship between Charles and the Scots, Murray being one of the few to retain his trust.[17] After the unsuccessful siege of Stirling was abandoned in early February, the Jacobites retreated to Inverness; in March, Murray fell ill and was replaced by the far less capable Hay of Restalrig.[18]

Money and basic items like shoes were now so short soldiers were paid in oatmeal and supplies requisitioned from local shopkeepers.[19] When the campaign reopened in April, the leadership decided only a decisive victory could change the strategic position; defeated at the Battle of Culloden, Charles ordered his remaining troops to disperse until he returned from France with additional support.[20]

In early May, two French privateers arrived in Loch nan Uamh, bringing 35,000 gold coins packed in seven barrels for the Jacobite war effort. With the Royal Navy close behind, the money was hastily landed and the French ships fought their way out, carrying a number of senior officers, including Lord John Drummond and the Duke of Perth.[21] Murray was in Leith seeking passage to Holland with Lochiel and his younger brother Archibald Cameron when they heard of the ships arrival. Hoping to use these funds to continue the war, the three travelled to Loch nan Uamh and took charge of the money, although one barrel was missing.[22]

What happened to the rest is unclear; Murray claimed some was distributed in back pay and the bulk consigned to Archibald Cameron for safekeeping, which agrees with the detailed account provided by Cameron in 1750.[23] In the recriminations that followed defeat, various people were accused of stealing it, including Cameron, executed in 1753 after returning to Scotland allegedly to dig it up, Alastair MacDonnell, aka Pickle the spy, who spent the Rising in the Tower of London and MacPherson of Cluny. Despite suggestions it remains hidden, modern-day treasure hunters have yet to find any trace of it.[24]

Loch Morar, where Murray and other Jacobite leaders met in late May, before dispersing

A few days later, Lochiel, Murray, Glenbucket, John Roy Stewart and others met near Loch Morar to discuss options. They were joined by Lord Lovat, who had avoided personal participation but supplied the Jacobites with 300 Frasers under his son, Simon, Master of Lovat. All agreed to continue a guerrilla campaign and reassemble a few days later with their men, using the French money to cover arrears of pay. Lovat asked that his share be given directly to his 'steward', which Murray implies was a ruse to obtain part of the money for himself. When they reassembled a few days later, those who did show up brought substantially fewer men than agreed, while many did not attend at all, including the Frasers.[25]

Plans to continue the fight were abandoned and with government forces searching for them, the group split up. Still hoping to arrange passage from Leith and suffering from severe dysentery, Murray made his way to his sister's house at Polmood. He was arrested there on 27 June, although it was later suggested that he sent messages asking to be taken into custody. He was transferred to the Tower of London in early July, along with other senior Jacobites, including Lovat, who had been apprehended in early June.[26] Lochiel, Archibald Cameron, Glenbucket and others finally met up with Prince Charles and were picked up by a French ship in September.[27]

Lord Lovat, on his way to London; Murray's testimony was extensively used in his trial but largely to confirm other evidence

Murray was provided with a French officer's commission in 1743, in the hope this would allow him to be treated as a prisoner of war, rather than a rebel but this was rejected. The same defence failed to save Francis Towneley, commander of the Manchester Regiment; he was executed on 30 July despite being a major with eight years service in the French army.[28]

Most high-ranking Jacobite prisoners were tried and sentenced before Murray arrived in London but he agreed to provide information against his former associates in return for a pardon. While some accounts claim Murray's testimony led to Lovat's execution, it was primarily used to confirm details of the evidence; Lovat's participation was not in dispute and many contemporaries felt he would have been executed anyway. In October 1745, Lovat had attempted to kidnap his long-term associate Duncan Forbes, chief legal officer in Scotland, who wrote that his motive was to 'ruin and subvert the government, because they (would not) gratify his...avaricious passions and desires.'[29]

Of far greater long-term significance was Murray's testimony against sympathisers who failed to support the Rising, although he avoided incriminating those he had not met, like the Duke of Beaufort, known to be 'a most determined and unwavering Jacobite.'[30] As with Lovat, he largely confirmed details already known, such as the meeting between Charles and Sir John Douglas, MP for Dumfriesshire at Stirling in January 1746.[31] Two of his brothers served in the Jacobite army so Douglas' sympathies were hardly unknown but Murray stated he was surprised to see him, 'never having suspected him to be in the Pretender's interest.'[32]

No further action was taken against Douglas and others but this ended the practice whereby many British politicians could in theory support the overthrow of their own government and institutions with impunity.[33] The Tory Jacobite leader Williams-Wynn shows why the government considered this necessary; on various occasions prior to 1745, he provided Stuart agents with promises of support but spent the Rising in London. Despite this, he wrote to Charles in late 1747 claiming his supporters wished for 'another happy opportunity wherein they may exert themselves more in deeds than in words, in the support of your Royal Highness's dignity and interest and the cause of liberty.'[34]

Released from the Tower after Lovat's execution, Murray was formally pardoned in June 1748 and disappeared into obscurity. He purchased a property in Cheshunt, outside London, where he was reportedly visited by Charles in 1763, remarried and had another six children. He was allegedly treated for alcoholism on a number of occasions; he succeeded his nephew David as Baron Stanhope in 1770 and died at home in December 1777.