George W. Murray
Encyclopedia
George Washington Murray (September 22, 1853 - April 21, 1926) was born a slave and served as a Congressman from South Carolina
.
He was born a slave near Rembert
, Sumter County, South Carolina on September 22, 1853. Murray attended the public schools and the University of South Carolina at Columbia for two years. He taught school for fifteen years in Sumter County.
He played an important role in the Republican Party
. He was chairman of the Sumter County Republican Party. He was known as the "Republican Black Eagle." Murray was a delegate at several Republican National Conventions. He lectured for the Colored Farmers Alliance
.
Murray was an inspector of customs at the port of Charleston, South Carolina
from 1890 to 1892. He was elected as a Republican
representing South Carolina's 7th congressional district
in the Fifty-third Congress (March 4, 1893 - March 3, 1895). Due to redistricting, he ran in South Carolina's 1st congressional district
in 1894. Although he lost the popular vote to William Elliott
, he successfully contested the election and served in the Fifty-fourth Congress from June 4, 1896 to March 3, 1897.
Murray engaged in the real estate business in Sumter County. In 1903, he was charged with forging names on lease agreements. He was convicted in 1905.
Instead of serving his sentence, he moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1905 where he sold life insurance and real estate. He was active in the Illinois Republican Party
and an ally of Chicago Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson
.
He was pardoned by South Carolina Governor
Coleman Blease in 1915. He died in Chicago, Illinois, April 21, 1926. He is buried in Lincoln Cemetery
.
Current Democratic
South Carolina congressman and House Majority Whip
Jim Clyburn
is one of his relatives.
Murray would be the last Black Republican to serve in Congress from South Carolina until Tim Scott
was elected in 2010.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
He was born a slave near Rembert
Rembert, South Carolina
Rembert is a census-designated place in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 406 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rembert is located at ....
, Sumter County, South Carolina on September 22, 1853. Murray attended the public schools and the University of South Carolina at Columbia for two years. He taught school for fifteen years in Sumter County.
He played an important role in the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He was chairman of the Sumter County Republican Party. He was known as the "Republican Black Eagle." Murray was a delegate at several Republican National Conventions. He lectured for the Colored Farmers Alliance
Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union
Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union was formed in the 1880s in the USA, when both black and white farmers faced great difficulties due to the rising price of farming and the decreasing profits which were coming from farming. At this time the Southern Farmers' alliance which...
.
Murray was an inspector of customs at the port of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
from 1890 to 1892. He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
representing South Carolina's 7th congressional district
South Carolina's 7th congressional district
For other uses see SC 7 The 7th Congressional District of South Carolina was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina. It was first eliminated in 1853 as a result of the 1850 Census. After the 1880 Census, it was again reconstituted for 50 years...
in the Fifty-third Congress (March 4, 1893 - March 3, 1895). Due to redistricting, he ran in South Carolina's 1st congressional district
South Carolina's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county...
in 1894. Although he lost the popular vote to William Elliott
William Elliott
William Elliott may refer to:*William Henry Elliott , British general*William Elliott , lieutenant in the Royal Navy and marine painter*William Elliott , English engraver...
, he successfully contested the election and served in the Fifty-fourth Congress from June 4, 1896 to March 3, 1897.
Murray engaged in the real estate business in Sumter County. In 1903, he was charged with forging names on lease agreements. He was convicted in 1905.
Instead of serving his sentence, he moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1905 where he sold life insurance and real estate. He was active in the Illinois Republican Party
Illinois Republican Party
The Illinois Republican Party is the state-level affiliate of the Republican Party in Illinois. Since August 20, 2009, it has been chaired by Pat Brady...
and an ally of Chicago Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson
William Hale Thompson
William Hale Thompson was Mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1927 to 1931. Known as "Big Bill", Thompson was the last Republican to serve as Mayor of Chicago, and ranks among the most unethical mayors in American history.Thompson was born in Boston, Massachusetts to William Hale...
.
He was pardoned by South Carolina Governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
Coleman Blease in 1915. He died in Chicago, Illinois, April 21, 1926. He is buried in Lincoln Cemetery
Lincoln Cemetery (Blue Island)
Lincoln Cemetery is a cemetery on Kedzie Avenue in Blue Island, Worth Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is noteworthy for the number of famous African-American Chicagoans buried there, among them several blues and jazz musicians of note....
.
Current Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
South Carolina congressman and House Majority Whip
Party whips of the United States House of Representatives
A whip in the United States House of Representatives manages his party's legislative program on the House floor. The Whip keeps track of all legislation and ensures that all party members are present when important measures are to be voted upon....
Jim Clyburn
Jim Clyburn
James Enos "Jim" Clyburn is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993, and the Assistant Democratic Leader since 2011. He was previously House Majority Whip, serving in that post from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
is one of his relatives.
Murray would be the last Black Republican to serve in Congress from South Carolina until Tim Scott
Tim Scott (politician)
Timothy Eugene "Tim" Scott is the U.S. Representative for . Elected in November 2010 to the 112th Congress, he and Allen West of Florida are the first Republican African-American Representatives from the South since Reconstruction, and the first Republican African-American members of Congress...
was elected in 2010.