Patrick Boyle Mure Macredie (28 September 1800 - 15 April 1868) was the younger son of Thomas Mure, of Warriston House, Edinburgh (who died in 1806), by Helen, eldest daughter of the Hon. Patrick Boyle, of Shewalton. He was born in 1800, and having studied arts and law at the Universities of Edinburgh and Heidelberg, was called to the Scottish bar in 1822, his uncle, David Boyle then sitting on the Scottish Bench. He took an active part in county affairs, a leading one especially as chairman of the finance committee. He was an earnest promoter of the various enterprises for the spread of religion and education in the county, and more especially in his own neighbourhood. He also fostered a taste for the natural sciences, and was a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and several other kindred bodies. He married, in 1835, Rachael Anne, only child of the late John Macredie, of Perceton, whose name he assumed in addition to his own. The Mure Memorial Hospital, Nagpur is named after him.
Early life and education
Patrick Mure was born at Warriston, Edinburgh, on 28 September 1800. His father was Thomas Mure, Esq. of Warriston. His mother was the eldest daughter of the Honourable Patrick Boyle of Shewalton, Ayrshire, and brother of the late George Mure, esq., of Herringswell Hall, Suffolk. He lost both his parents in very early life; but he came under the care of his maternal grandmother and uncle at Shewalton, as well as of his mother’s sister, Mrs Smollet of Bonhill, at Cameron House. He was one of a large family. George, his elder brother, was in the Grenadier Guards, and carried the colours at Waterloo. Thomas, his younger brother, entered the navy, and died of fever in Irrawady.
Patrick, destined for the Bar, entered the University of Edinburgh in 1812, and passed with credit and approbation through the usual curriculum of the Arts Classes, as well as those of the Law. In 1822 he was one of nineteen who passed Advocate—seven of them on the same day, among whom were Sir Charles Ferguson of Kilkerran, Mr Hog of Newliston, and Lord Neaves.
Christian conversion and influences
Towards the close of 1822 he begins to take note in his diary of the sermons he heard. The preaching of Andrew Mitchell Thomson produced a powerful impression on his mind; but it was chiefly through the ministry of Henry Grey that he underwent a Christian conversion. From this time forward he became a daily and systematic student of the Bible, availing himself of all the helps he could obtain. He soon afterwards became a Sabbath-school teacher, and his diaries reveal how deep was the interest he took in his class, and how diligently he prepared himself for it. When Thomas Chalmers was appointed to the Divinity Chair, like many others who were non-theological, he attended his lectures, and caught the enthusiasm for theological inquiry. Church history became a favourite study; and he set himself to acquire a knowledge of Hebrew, that he might be able to read the Old Testament Scriptures in the original tongue.