MUNRO, WILLIAM (1818–1880), general and botanist, eldest son of William Munro of Druids Stoke, Gloucestershire, entered the army as ensign 39th foot 20 Jan. 1834. His subsequent steps in the regiment, all by purchase, were lieutenant April 1836, captain 2 July 1844, major 7 May 1852, and lieutenant-colonel 11 Nov. 1853. He served with his regiment many years in India, and as adjutant was severely wounded at the battle of Maharajpore, 24 Dec. 1843, where the regiment suffered heavy loss (Maharajpore Star). He commanded the regiment at the siege of Sebastopol, and commanded the supports of the 3rd division in the attack on the Redan, 18 June 1855 (C.B., Legion of Honour and Medjidié, and English and Turkish Crimean medals). He commanded the 39th during its subsequent service in Canada and at Bermuda, retiring on half-pay in 1865.
Munro became a major-general 6 March 1868, commanded the troops in the West Indies 1870-6, was made a lieutenant general 10 Feb. 1876, was appointed honorary colonel 93rd highlanders 11 Oct. the same year, and became a full general 25 June 1878. He died at Taunton, 29 Jan. 1880.
Munro was a ‘learned botanist’ (Nature, 12 Feb. 1880, p. 357). He contrived to combine with his military duties ‘so close a study of the characters, nomenclature, affinities, and classification of grasses as to have been for many years the most trustworthy referee on that difficult order.’ A ‘Monograph on the Bamboos’ in the ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society’ proves ‘his industry and profound knowledge of his subject’ (Gardener's Chron. 5 Feb. 1880). When Munro retired from active service and established himself at Taunton, he commenced a general monograph of the whole order of Gramineæ, in continuation of the ‘Prodromus’ of A. de Candolle. To the abiding loss of science, the monograph was not completed.
Munro was author of the following papers: ‘Discovery [by Lieutenant W. Munro] of Fossil Plants at Kamptee,’ ‘Proceedings of Agricultural Society of India,’ 1842, pp. 22-23; ‘On Antidotes to Snake-bites,’ ‘Journal of Agricultural Society of India,’ 1848, vi. 1-23; ‘Report on Timber Trees of Bengal,’ ‘Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal,’ 1849, xlvi. 84-94; ‘Froriep Notizen,’ 1849, x. 81-7, ‘Characters of some New Grasses collected at Hong Kong and in the vicinity by Mr. Charles Wright in the North Pacific Exploring Expedition,’ ‘American Academy Proceedings,’ 1857-60, vi. 362-8; ‘An Identification of the Grasses of Linnæus's Herbarium, now in possession of the Linnean Society of London,’ ‘Linnean Society's Journal,’ 1862., vi. 33-55.
[Hart's Army Lists; Kinglake's Crimea, cab. ed.; Cat. Scientific Papers, under ‘Munro, William;’ Broad Arrow, February 1880.]
MUNSON, LIONEL (d. 1680), Roman catholic priest. [See Anderson.]
MUNSTER, Earl of. [See Fitzclarence, George Augustus Frederick, first Earl, 1794–1842.]
MUNSTER, kings of. [See O'Brien, Brian Roe, d. 1277; O'Brien, Conor na Siudaine, d. 1267: O'Brien, Donald, d. 1194; O'Brien, Donough, d. 1064; O'Brien, Donogh Cairbrech, d. 1242; O'Brien, Murtough, d. 1119; O'Brien, Turlough, 1009–1086.]
MUNTZ, GEORGE FREDERICK (1794–1857), political reformer, eldest son of Philip Frederick Muntz, was born in Birmingham on 26 November 1794 in a house in Great Charles Street, then a country residence. His ancestors were Poles, whom persecution drove to France. Muntz's grandfather, born in a country château near Soulz sur la Forêt, was a landowner of very aristocratic position. During the French revolution the family was broken up, and Philip Frederick Muntz, the father, travelled extensively, and after spending some time as a merchant at Amsterdam removed to England, and finally to Birmingham, where, partly owing to the advice of Matthew Boulton, he bought a share for 500l. in the firm of Mynors & Robert Purden, merchants. The firm was afterwards widely known as Muntz & Purden. He married Catherine, Purden's daughter, on 6 March 1793, and resided at Selly Hall, Worcestershire.
George Frederick was educated at home till his twelfth year, when he was sent to Dr. Currie's school at Small Heath, and after a twelvemonth went into business. He spoke French and German well. On the death of his father in 1811 he managed the metal works which the elder Muntz had established in Water Street (now pulled
