# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Murray, John (1786-1851)

​MURRAY, JOHN (1786?–1851), scientific writer and lecturer, son of James Murray, sea-captain, and of Grace, his wife, was born at Stranraer about 1786. He seems to have early directed his attention to scientific matters, and in 1815 he published at Saffron Walden ‘The Elements of Chemical Science,’ describing himself as ‘Lecturer on the Philosophy of Physics and of Chemistry.’ In 1816 he published at Dumfries a volume entitled ‘Minor Poems,’ which was dedicated to Capell Lofft (1751–1824) [q. v.] In the same year his name appears in the list of lecturers at the Surrey Institution established in the early part of the century in the Blackfriars Road, on the model of the Royal Institution. He gave an annual course there for many years, and became well known as a lecturer at mechanics' institutions in various parts of the kingdom. In an address at the Leeds Philosophical Society Lord Brougham referred to him as ‘one of the best lecturers in the world.’ He was industrious and wrote with facility and clearness, but the wide range of subjects to which he gave attention prevented him from attaining eminence in any. He was much interested in the safety lamp, and took part in the discussion which arose about 1816 consequent on the publication of Sir H. Davy's memoirs in the ‘Philosophical Transactions.’ In that year he published papers in the ‘Philosophical Magazine’ (xlvii. 411, xlviii. 453), in which he showed that a sieve of hair or whalebone, or a sheet of perforated cardboard, formed an effectual barrier to the passage of flame. He also exhibited at his lectures an experimental safety lamp, the body of which consisted of muslin rendered incombustible by steeping it in a solution of phosphate of ammonia, and which was quite effective. From these experiments Murray deduced a theory of the efficiency of the safety-lamp which was opposed to that propounded by Davy. A résumé of his researches on this subject is given in his ‘Observations on Flame and Safety Lamps,’ 1833. Among his opponents was John Murray (d. 1820) [q. v.], and some confusion has been caused by two persons of the same name each writing upon the same subject. The papers in the ‘Philosophical Magazine,’ xlviii. 286, 360, 451, and xlix. 47, are by the subject of this notice, and not by Dr. John Murray, to whom they are attributed in the Royal Society's ‘Catalogue of Scientific Papers.’
Murray was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (1822) and of the Geological (1823), Linnean (1819), and Horticultural Societies (1824), and he is also described on his tombstone as ‘Ph.D.’ and ‘M.A.’ He is sometimes referred to by contemporary writers as Dr. Murray, or Professor Murray.
He seems to have settled in Hull about 1842, and at the end of 1850 he removed to Broadstone House, near Stranraer, where he died on 28 June 1851, aged 65, his death having been accelerated by the pressure of pecuniary difficulties (Mining Journal, 14 June 1851, p. 288). He was buried in Inch churchyard, where there is a tombstone commemorating several members of his family.
Besides the works already mentioned, Murray wrote: 1. ‘Remarks on the Cultivation of the Silkworm,’ Glasgow, 1825. 2. ‘Experiments illustrative of Chemical Science,’ 2nd edit. 1828; 5th edit. 1839. 3. ‘Remarks on Modern Paper,’ Edinburgh, 1829. 4. ‘Treatise on Atmospherical Electricity,’ London, 1830, which was translated into French as one of the ‘Manuals-Roret.’ 5. ‘Pulmonary Consumption,’ London, 1830. 6. ‘Remarks on Hydrophobia,’ London, 1830. 7. ‘Memoir on the Diamond,’ 1831. 8. ‘A Method for forming an Instantaneous Connection with the Shore in Shipwreck,’ London, 1832. 9. ‘Description of a new Lightning Conductor,’ London, 1833. 10. ‘Account of the Palo de Vacca, or Cow Tree,’ London, 1837. 11. ‘Considerations on the Vital Principle,’ 1837. 12. ‘The Truth of Revelation,’ 2nd edit. London, 1840; the first edition seems to have been published anonymously in 1831. In a letter in the ‘Mining Journal’ of 10 May 1851 Murray claims to have written twenty-eight separate works; upwards of twenty are mentioned in the ‘British Museum Catalogue.’ His contributions to scientific journals and periodicals cover a wide field, and relate to chemistry, physics, medicine, geology, natural history, and manufactures. The Royal Society's ‘Catalogue’ enumerates about sixty; but Murray wrote much in the ‘Mechanics' Magazine’ from 1831 to 1844, and also in the ‘Mining Journal,’ of which he was a very steady correspondent for about the last ten years of his life.
[Obituary notice in Galloway Advertiser, 3 July 1851 (copied in Mining Journal, 12 July 1851, p. 336); tombstone in Inch churchyard and private information.]
R. B. P.