Murray, Alexander 1755-1884
Naval officer; born in Chestertown, Md., in 1755; commanded a vessel engaged in the European trade at the age of eighteen, and at twenty-one was appointed lieutenant in the Continental navy; but before entering upon his duties he served under Colonel Smallwood on land duty. He did good public service as a privateer during the Revolution, and also in the regular naval service. During the war he was in thirteen battles in the army and navy. After being captured and exchanged, he volunteered his services as a lieutenant on board the Trumbull, which, on leaving the Delaware, was attacked and taken by two British vessels of war, after a fierce engagement during a terrible storm on a dark night. In this battle Murray behaved gallantly, and was severely wounded. After his recovery he was made first lieutenant of the frigate Alliance. On the organization of the national navy in 1798 he was commissioned a captain, and at one time was in command of the frigate Constellation. At his death, near Philadelphia, Oct. 6, 1821, he was in command of the navy-yard at Philadelphia, and was the senior officer in the navy.
Naval officer; born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 2, 1818; son of the preceding; entered the navy as a midshipman in 1835, and was made commander in 1862. He served on the Mexican coast during the war against that country, and was afterwards engaged in the coast survey. He was in the battle at Roanoke Island and also of Newbern, in February, 1862. His chief theatre of operations in the Civil War was on the coast of North Carolina. He was promoted captain in 1866, and commodore in 1871. He died in Washington, D. C., Nov. 10, 1884.
