Charles Townshend Murdoch (27 May 1837 – 8 July 1898) was a banker and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1898.
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Murdoch was the son of James Gordon Murdoch, of Ashfold, Sussex and his wife Caroline Penelope Gambier daughter of Samuel Gambier[1] and sister of Edward John Gambier. He was educated at Eton College and became a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. Later he was a captain in the South Middlesex Volunteers and adjutant of the Hertfordshire Yeoman Cavalry. He became a banker and was a partner in the firm of Ransom, Bouverie & Co and a director of Imperial Fire Insurance Co and London Life Association. He was also chairman of the Llanelly Railway and a J.P. for Berkshire[2] living at Wokingham.[3]
At the 1885 general election, Murdoch was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Reading, holding the seat until his defeat in 1892.[4] He regained the seat in 1895, and held it until his death aged 61 in 1898.[5] His opponents in the elections were members of the Palmer family of Huntley & Palmers biscuits.
Murdoch married Sophia Speke, daughter of W Speke of Ilminster, in 1862 and had several daughters.
References
edit- ^ Blackwoods Magazine Vol 6 1820
- ^ Debretts House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1886
- ^ UK Census 1881
- ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 174. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
External links
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