Murray (Charles)
Original title: Murray (Carlos)
Charles Murray, 18th-century British consul in Madeira, a benefactor who built the Senhora fountain and the parish residence at Monte and funded charitable works.
He was British consul in Madeira in the 18th century. He had the old Senhora fountain built at Monte (‘hill’), which was destroyed by the fall of a large chestnut tree in 1896. Although a Protestant, he also had the parish residence built in the same parish (freguesia), as well as part of the pilgrims’ house.
He helped to carry out a number of public improvements and also contributed generously to various works for the benefit of the poorest classes of Funchal.
It is of some interest to mention here that he had published at his own expense a curious pamphlet entitled Avisos interessantes à humanidade ou Colecção de alguns artigos concernentes à restauração da vida dos afogados e outros casos de morte aparente..., translated from English by the Madeiran poet Francisco Manuel de Oliveira and printed in Lisbon in 1788.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02Place
Places mentioned · 04
Abroad
- Fonte da Senhora
Funchal. Fountain built by Murray, destroyed in 1896.
Fonte da Senhora was a fountain in Monte linked to the legend of the apparition of Our Lady. It was built by Murray and destroyed in 1896.
- Funchal
City whose poor benefited from Murray's charity.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where the pamphlet was printed.
The Portuguese capital, seat of the Relação court and of the Misericórdia whose privileges and statutes were extended to Funchal. Henrique Franco de Sousa studied at its Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Luiz José Baiardo moved there in 1821.
- Monte
Funchal. Parish where Murray built the fountain and parish residence.
Parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte above Funchal, at about 600 m, where leafing occurs later than in Funchal. It contains the localities of Jardim Botânico, Igreja and Marmeleiros and the Quinta de Sant'Ana. The Elucidário notes its many plants, such as acacias and Sonchus fruticosus.
People
People mentioned · 02-
British consul in Madeira in the 18th century and benefactor of Monte and of Funchal's poor.
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Madeiran poet who translated the pamphlet on reviving the drowned published at Murray's expense in 1788.