Major Edward Croft-Murray CBE (1 September 1907 – 18 September 1980) was a British antiquarian, an expert on British art, and Keeper of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum from 1954 to 1973.[1][2]
He was born in Chichester and educated at Lancing College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and rose to the rank of Major in World War II.[3][1]
He was descended from the Croft baronets of Croft Castle and related to a cousin of the Empress Josephine. He worked at the British Museum from 1933 as a volunteer then assistant keeper and became keeper of Prints and Drawings in 1954. During WW2 he served as one of the Monuments Men.[4][5]
He was also interested in music and studied the violin at school. After his war service he founded ‘The New Mellstock Band’ comprising amateur and professional musicians who played Church Band and Georgian music. He composed music for Petersham church as 'an unknown pupil of J. C. Bach'.[4]
He was appointed CBE in 1966. He lived at 4 Maids of Honour Row, Richmond and is buried at St Peter's Church, Petersham.[4]
- ^ a b "Mr Edward Croft-Murray". The Times. 24 September 1980. p. 14. Retrieved 3 February 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.
- ^ Bett, Henry (29 September 1980). "Mr Edward Croft-Murray". The Times: 14 – via The Times Digital Archive.
- ^ "Edward "Teddy" Croft-Murray ( 1907-1980 )". The Monuments Men. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ a b c Rauf, Amjad (2023). "A Six-Course Double Strung Cittern". CHRISTIE'S. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Edward Croft-Murray". British Museum. Retrieved 3 February 2024.