Born in Mauchline in Ayrshire to coachman Peter Murray and Jean, née Witherspoon, he was educated locally and emigrated to the Victorian goldfields around 1852.

In December of that year Murray relocated to Rockhampton, selecting around 2,000 acres (810 ha) of land and growing sugarcane from 1872.

[2] By personally inspecting the land he finally overcame squatter opposition to an extension to Gayndah of what eventually became the Mungar to Monto railway line.

[5] In 1901 he was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council and served as secretary for public instruction until August 1902 and minister without portfolio under Robert Philp until his retirement in 1903.

Following his defeat in the federal election he retired to return to pastoralism, purchasing Beaconsfield East and West stations at Ilfracombe in 1911.