Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826

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Lindley Murray was born at Harper Tavern, Pennsylvania, on 7 June 1745. His father, Robert Murray, a member of an old Quaker family, was one of the leading New York merchants. Murray was the eldest of twelve children, all of whom he survived, although he was puny and delicate in childhood. When six years old, he was sent to school in Philadelphia, but soon left to accompany his parents to North Carolina, where they lived until 1753. They then moved to New York, where Murray was sent to a good school, but proved a 'heedless boy'. Contrary to his inclinations, he was placed when only fourteen in his father's counting-house. In spite of endeavors to foster in him the commercial spirit, the lad's interests were mainly concentrated in science and literature. Collecting his books, he escaped to Burlington, New Jersey, entered a boarding-school, and started to study French. His retreat was discovered, he was brought back to New York, and allowed a private tutor. His father still desired him to apply himself to commerce, but he stated arguments in favor of a literary profession so ably in writing that his father's lawyer advised him to let the lad study law.

Four years later Murray was called to the bar, and practiced as counsel and attorney in the province of New York. At the age of twenty-two he married, and in 1770 came to England, whither his father had preceded him, but Lindley returned in 1771 to New York. Here his practice became both large and lucrative, in spite of his conscientious care to 'discourage litigation, and to recommend a peaceable settlement of differences.' On the outbreak of hostilities in America, Murray went with his wife to Long Island, where four years were spent in fishing, sailing, and shooting. On the declaration of independence he returned to New York, and was so successful that he retired in 1783 to a beautiful place on the Hudson.As Murray's health was failing, he decided to try the English climate. In 1784, he left America and never returned. The remainder of his life was spent in literary pursuits at Holgate, near York. For the last sixteen years of his life, Murray's poor physical condition confined him to his house.

His library became noted for its theological and philological treasures. He studied botany, and his garden was said to exceed in variety the Royal Gardens at Kew. The summer house in which his grammars were composed still remains. Murray's first published work, The Power of Religion on the Mind, York, 1787, 20th edition 1842, was twice translated into French. To the 8th edition (1795) was added 'Extracts from the Writings of divers Eminent Men representing the Evils of Stage Plays, &c.,' published separately 1789 and 1799.

His attention was then drawn to the want of suitable lesson-books for a Friends' school for girls in York, and in 1795 he published his English Grammar. The manuscript petition from the teachers requesting him to prepare it has been preserved. The work became rapidly popular; it went through nearly fifty editions, was edited, abridged, simplified, and enlarged in England and America, and for a long time was used in schools to the exclusion of all other grammar-books. See History of English grammars.

In 1816, an edition corrected by the author was issued in 2 vols. 8vo. An 'Abridgment' of this version by Murray, issued two years later, went through more than 120 editions of ten thousand each. It was printed at the New England Institution for the Blind in embossed characters, Boston, 1835, and translated into Marathi, Bombay, 1837. English Exercises followed (1797), with A Key (27th edit. London, 1847), and both works were in large demand. Murray's English Reader, Sequel, and Introduction, issued respectively 1799, 1800, and 1801 (31st edit. 1836), were equally successful, as well as the Lecteur Francais, 1802, and Introduction to the Lecteur Francais, 1807. An English Spelling Book, 1804, reached forty-four editions, and was translated into Spanish (Cadiz, 1841). Of a First Book for Children the 150th thousand, with portrait and woodcuts, was issued in 1859.

The sales of the Grammar, Exercises, Key, and Lecteur Francais brought Murray in each case £700, and he devoted the whole sum to philanthropic objects. The copyright of his religious works he presented to his publishers. By his will, a sum of money for the purchase and distribution of religious literature was vested in trustees in America. When the Retreat for the Insane was founded at York by William Tuke in 1792, Murray did his utmost to second Tuke's efforts to introduce a humane system of treatment.

He was a recorded minister of York Monthly Meeting for eleven years, when 'his voice failed and he asked permission to resign.' For the last 16 years of his life he never left the house. He died on 16 January 1826, aged 80.

Adapted from Wikipedia, 2021.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Books from the library of Amos Bronson Alcott, 1579-1893. Houghton Library
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. African American History collection, 1729-1970, bulk 1800-1865. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. Autograph letter signed : Holdgate near York, to the Secretary of "The British and Foreign Bible Society", 1805 Nov. 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Bringhurst, James, d. 1810. Collection of Bringhurst Family Correspondence, 1780-1811. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
creatorOf Letters, 1785-1830. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Dibdin, Thomas Frognall, 1776-1847. The library companion, or, The young man's guide and the old man's comfort in the choice of a library / by the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, 1792-ca. 1830. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn African American History collection 1729-1970 1800-1865 African American history collection William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Dibdin, Thomas Frognall, 1776-1847. The library companion, or, The young man's guide and the old man's comfort in the choice of a library / by the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, 1792-ca. 1830. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. ALS : New York, to Skipwith H. Coale, 1814 Oct. 28. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf McGuffey, William Holmes, 1800-1873. Historic textbook collection. University of Missouri -- Columbia, MU Libraries; University of Missouri; MU; Ellis Library; University of Missouri Columbia
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. ALsS, 1817-1824, Holdgate, [England] / L. Murray. Haverford College Library
referencedIn George Wiley Sherburn collection of letters and documents, 1655-1834. Houghton Library
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. Autograph letter signed : Holdgate, to Thomas Fisher, 1807 Nov. 18. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hunt, John, 1740-1824. Papers, 1770-1828. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. ALS : New York, to Benjamin Warner, 1820 Sept. 25. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. ALS : Holdgate, near York, Pa., to John Pemberton, 1786 Dec. 19. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. Papers, 1785-1830. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
creatorOf Collection of Lindley Murray letters, 1785-1822. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
referencedIn Murray, John, 1737-1808. John Murray letter to Jeremiah G. Brainard, 1787 May 14. New London County Historical Society
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. Letters of Lindley Murray, 1799-1804. Library of Congress
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. ALS, 1773 November 16 : New York to Dr. Parks. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Darton & Harvey archive, 1791-1847 Reading University : Special Collections Services
creatorOf Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. Autograph letter signed : Holdgate, to Samuel Woolman, 180?. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ackworth School (Ackworth, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Alcott, Amos Bronson, 1799-1888 person
associatedWith Bringhurst, James, d. 1810. person
associatedWith Coale, Skipwith H., person
associatedWith Darton & Harvey corporateBody
associatedWith Dibdin, Thomas Frognall, 1776-1847. person
associatedWith Fisher, Thomas, person
associatedWith Fothergill, Eliza, fl. 1817. person
associatedWith Heineman, James H., person
associatedWith Hunt, John, 1740-1824 person
acquaintanceOf Moore, Samuel, 1742-1822 person
associatedWith Murray, Catharine. person
associatedWith Murray family. family
associatedWith Murray, John. person
associatedWith Murray, John, 1737-1808. person
associatedWith Murray, Lindley, 1785-1847, person
associatedWith Murray, Robert. person
associatedWith Parks, Dr. person
acquaintanceOf Pemberton, John, 1708-1759?, person
acquaintanceOf Ross, Thomas, approximately 1709-1786 person
associatedWith Sherburn, George Wiley, 1884- person
associatedWith Tuke, Samuel, 1784-1857. person
associatedWith Warner, Benjamin, 1786-1821, person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Woolman, Sameul, person
memberOf Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting of the Society of Friends corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Pennsylvania PA US
Yorkshire ENG GB
Burlington County NJ US
Subject
Society of Friends
Lay ministry
Quakers
Occupation
Clergy
Grammarians
Lawyers
Quakers
Activity

Person

Birth 1745-06-07

Death 1826-01-16

Male

Britons

English

Information

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