Thomas Carlyle, Alexander Murray and he were early friends, and walked together from Galloway to Edinburgh each session during their university career.[1] Murray was destined for the ministry of the Church of Scotland, however after obtaining his licence and preaching for some time, he took to writing.He became connected with Sir David Brewster and the staff of writers on Brewster's Cyclopædia, and from contact with Leonard Horner and John Ramsay McCulloch became interested in political economy.For six years (1854–60) he was a member of the Edinburgh town council, where he acted with the Whig or moderate Liberal party.[1] He is buried with his wife Janet Murray (1799-1889) and their five children against the south-east boundary wall of Restalrig Church in eastern Edinburgh.
The grave of Thomas Murray, Restalrig Churchyard, Edinburgh