Captain Henry Boyles Murray

Captain H. B. Murray, Samuel Lane, oils, ca. 1859. Museum no. P.4-1911

Henry Boyles Murray bequeathed his collection including porcelain and metalwork to the Museum together with £50,000 for future acquisitions.

Henry Boyles Murray was born in 1843, the son of Thomas Murray, a clergyman. On 6 March 1852 he was admitted to St Paul’s School, London. In 1861 Murray enlisted with the 8th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot. He was promoted to captain on 1 September 1867. He died on 24 August 1910, aged 67, bequeathing to the Museum his collection, notably porcelain and metalwork, but also pictures, miniatures, fans and 'other objects of bijouterie and virtu', together with the sum of £50,000 for future acquisitions. In 1911 Colonel Sir Wyndham Murray presented to the Museum a portrait of Murray (Museum no. P.4-1911) painted by Samuel Lane.

Information in the V&A Archive

MA/1/M3230: Nominal file – Captain H. B. Murray

MA/1/M3232: Nominal file – Captain H. B. Murray (bequest)

Printed departmental reports on the bequest in the Board of Education’s Report for the Years 1909 and 1910 on the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Bethnal Green Museum. London: HMSO, 1910

MA/46/1/1: Advisory Council minutes

MA/31/6: Register of loans in

MA/49/2/82 & 84: Press cuttings

Other archival sources

The National Archives, London: IR 62/517 – Bequest to the trustees of the Victoria & Albert Museum: Captain H B Murray