MURRAY
JilURRAY
William and Ann (Smith) Murray, and grand-
son of James and Sally (Thomas) Murray, natives
of England, who settled in Barbadoes, W.I. Dr.
William Murray came to Maryland from Bar-
bardoes and practised medicine in Chestertown.
Alexander left home at an early age as a cabin
boy on a coasting vessel and was rapidly pro-
moted, commanding a vessel in the European
trade in 1773. At the outbreak of hostilities be-
tween England and the colonies in 1775 he was
commissioned lieutenant in the Maryland navy,
but being unable to obtain command of a ship he
accepted a lieutenanc}' in the 1st Maryland regi-
ment under Colonel Smallwood, and served with
Washington's army at Flatbush, White Plains
and in other engagements around New York and
in the retreat through New Jersey. While in
command of the battery at the lower end of
Manhattan island engaged in opposing the pro-
gress of the British fleet up the Hudson river, the
bursting of a gun impaired his hearing, which he
never fully recovered. He was promoted captain
and was retired on account of ill health. He
later resumed his rank as lieutenant in the Mary-
land nav}', and was assigned to the command of
different letters of marque and had various en-
gagements with incoming Bi-itish vessels while in
search of plunder. His rank gave him the chief
command of all privateering vessels sailing out
of the port of Baltimore. While in command of
the letter of marque Revenge, he sailed for Hol-
land with a fleet of forty vessels, but on gaining
the high sea encountered a superior force and
was obliged to put back and seek refuge in the
Patuxent river. His force was increased to fifty
sail, and the commanders agreed to fight their
way through the British squadron blockading the
port. After putting to sea a fleet of British
privateers hove in sight. Commodore Murray's
fleet captains did not respond to his signals for
assistance and he was left with only a brig and a
schooner as support. A severe engagement of an
hour resulted in the two British vessels with-
drawing from the contest, and Commodore
Murray returned to Hampton Roads with his
three vessels to refit. He then sailed for the
Newfoundland banks, but was overtaken by a
fleet of 150 British vessels under escort of a man-
of-war, and was easily captured and carried into
port. He was exchanged and returned to Phila-
delphia, where he found the frigate Trumbull,
Capt. James Nicholson (q.v.), ready for service,
and was made lieutenant. He was severely
wounded in the engagement with the British
frigate Iris and the General Monk, and was
captured. Wlien he recovered from his wounds he
was exchanged and congress furnished him with
a brig fitted out as a letter-of -marque. He sailed
for St. Thomas and on his return captured a
British packet. He retained his commission
longer than any other oflicer who served in the
U.S. navy during the Revolution. He was 1st
lieutenant under Commodore Barry on the frigate
Alliance and was appointed commodore of the
corvette Montezuma during the difficulty with
France in 1798 and later commanded the frigates
Insurgent a.n([ Constellation. During the trouble
with the Barbary pirates in 1820 he was given
command of a squadron in the Mediterranean
and on his return was appointed to the com-
mand of the Philadelphia navy yard, ranking as
senior officer of the U.S. navy. He died near
Philadelphia, Pa.. Oct. 6. 1821.
MURRAY, Alexander, naval officer, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 2, 1816 ; son of Magnus M. and Mary (Wilkins) Murray, and grandson of Commodore Alexander Murray, U.S.N, (q.v.). He entered the U.S. naval .service in 1835 and served on the east coast of Mexico, 1846-47. He was severely wounded at the capture of Alvar- ado, and took part in the capture of Tampico, Tabasco, Tuspan and Vera Cruz. He was pro- moted lieutenant in 1847, and at the outbreak of the civil war was commissioned commander and given charge of the steamer Louisiana of the North Atlantic squadron. After defeating the Confederate steamer Yorktoum off Newport News, he took part in the capture of Roanoke Is- land and New Berne, N.C., and was left in pos- session of Edenton, Feb. 12, 1862. He commanded the five vessels left by Commander William Smith on the Pamunkey river to protect Mc- Clellan's base of supplies, IVFay, 17, 1862, and was on duty in the North Carolina sounds in 1863. He was promoted captain in 1866 ; was detailed on special service, 1865-66 ; was made commodore in 1871 '; served as light-house inspector, 1873-76, when he was retired with the rank of rear-ad- miral. He afterward served on the naval board and died in AVashington, D.C., Nov. 10, 1884.
MURRAY, David, educator and author, was born in Bovina, N. Y.. Oct. 15, 1830 ; son of William and Jean (Black) Murray. His parents immi- grated to America from Scotland in 1818. He was graduated at Union college, Schenectady, N.Y., 1852; was a tutor in Albany academy and professor of mathematics there in 1852-57, and principal, 1857-63. He was professor of mathe- matics and astromony in Rutgers college, 1863-73, and was married, Dec. 23, 1867, to Martlia Neilson of New York city. In 1873 he went to Japan as adviser to the impei'ial minister of education. He was superintendent of education in Tokyo, 1873- 79, and aided in the establishment of the public school system of Japan. He laid the facts in regard to the Japanese indemnity before the 44th congress in 1875-76, which resulted in its return. He visited the Centennial exposition of 1876 in
