[5] Early in 1753, his father, who had represented the Lanark Burghs from 1725 to 1734 and Selkirkshire continuously thereafter, informed Newcastle and Pelham that he intended to stand down at the general election in favour of his son, John, and "received their assurances of neutrality in the event of a contest with Gilbert Elliot."
Upon his father's death on 2 July 1753, Murray succeeded as laird of Philiphaugh, however, he faced opposition from another, writing to Newcastle: "The Duke of Argyll ...
I believe will use all his interest here against me by laying his orders upon my own cousin german Mr. Andrew Pringle, sheriff of the county, to join in support of Mr. Elliot against me, contrary to his own intention and inclination.
"[5] Murray travelled to American and "succeeded in recovering a portion of his debt and tried, without success, to obtain an appointment abroad through his cousin John Pringle, who acted as his financial adviser.
Forced by his creditors to sell a considerable part of his estates to John Johnstone of Alva, Murray with his wife and family remained in America for some years and as a loyalist suffered further losses.
Together, they were the parents of at least three sons and four daughters: Murray was known to be "popular, generous, and recklessly extravagant, he belonged to the racing and gambling set.