 He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in May 1943, and served with them during the Second World War.He was admitted by Middle Temple as a barrister in 1949.He succeeded to the title of 14th Baronet Murray of Etrick Forest and 14th Lord Elibank of Etrick Forest upon the death of James Alastair Frederick Campbell Erskine-Murray, 13th Lord Elibank, on 2 June 1973.