Alexander Murray ( 1755 – 1821 ) Commodore Alexander Murray ( July 12 , 1755 – October 6 , 1821 ) was an officer who served in the Continental Navy , the Continental Army , and later the United States Navy , during the American Revolutionary War , the Quasi - War with France and the First Barbary War in North Africa . Biography . Family background and early career . Murray ' s grandfather had been exiled to Barbados from his home in Elginshire , Scotland , following the Jacobite Rising of 1715 , and his father was born there , before moving to Chestertown , Maryland , to practice as a physician , marry , and have several children , of whom Alexander was the youngest . As a young man Murray went to sea , and such was his skill that by the age of 18 he was the master of a merchant ship plying its trade between America and Europe . American Revolution . Soon after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War , in 1776 the 21 - year old Murray was appointed a lieutenant in the Continental Navy . There being no posts available , Murray declined the offer of a letter of marque , and instead gained a commission as a lieutenant in the 1st Maryland Regiment under the command of Colonel William Smallwood . Murray found himself in the thick of the New York and New Jersey campaign . He saw action at the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 , after which he was promoted to captain , as was his friend , and fellow lieutenant of the Maryland Line , James Monroe . While serving at New York he suffered severe hearing loss from a bursting cannon while firing at a British fleet making its way up the North River ( the lower Hudson along the west side of Manhattan ) . Murray served in the Army until the end of 1777 , when he returned home on sick leave . Murray applied to the Marine Committee for sea - service and was again offered the command of a privateer , which this time he accepted . Murray operated in the Atlantic Ocean with some success . Eventually , while commanding the " Revenge " , he captured a British ship near Newfoundland , but over - burdened with prisoners bore away for a port in France . Unfortunately , his ship and prize were captured by a British fleet , and were returned to New York City , then in possession of Sir William Howe ' s army . Murray gave his parole , and was soon exchanged . He was then appointed to the frigate . The ship set sail in August 1781 , but after surviving a violent storm with some damage to her spars and rigging , on August 28 she found herself confronted by the British frigate and sloop of war HMS " General Monk " . After a fierce action in heavy seas with " Iris " , the " Trumbull " was repeatedly raked by " Monk " . Now unmanageable , and more than a third of the crew wounded or dead , the " Trumbull " surrendered . " Trumbull " was towed into New York , where Murray recovered from his wounds and was once more exchanged . Murray commanded a letter - of - marque on a successful voyage to St . Thomas with a cargo of tobacco , fighting off a British privateer , and capturing another , before taking part in an expedition against the Bahamas , and capturing New Providence . He was then appointed First Lieutenant of the frigate under the command of John Barry , sailing on her final cruise across the Atlantic , to France , and then to the West Indies , before the war ' s end in early 1783 . The Continental Navy was disbanded at the end of the war and Murray returned to private life . Murray was one of the few naval officers to be an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati . Quasi - War with France . In 1794 the government , in response to attacks on American merchant shipping , passed the Naval Act , which authorised the building of six new frigates , and established the United States Navy . Murray received a commission as one of the first thirteen post - captain s in the new Navy , and in August 1798 was assigned to command the corvette , with orders to protect American shipping in the Caribbean from French privateers . Such was his success that he was voted the Thanks of Congress , and was given command of the frigate , formerly a French ship which had been captured by Thomas Truxtun . " Insurgent " sailed from Hampton Roads on 14 August 1799 , and cruised in European waters during the winter of 1799 - 1800 . She captured the French ship " Vendemaire " , and recaptured the American ships " Margaret " , " Angora " , " Commerce " , and " William and Mary " . " Insurgent " returned to the United States in March 1800 via the West Indies . First Barbary War . Murray was then appointed to the command of the frigate , and patrolled in the West Indies until early 1802 , when he was appointed the commodore of a small squadron sent to blockade Tripoli . In " Constellation " , he relieved Commodore Richard Dale ( with whom he has served aboard the " Trumbull " ) . Murray distributed his small force , so as not to allow a single Tripolitan ship to escape to prey upon American merchantmen . At one time he was entirely alone and becalmed in his ship off the bay of Tripoli . The Algerians sent out a force of small armed vessels propelled by sweeps to attack him . Eventually a favourable breeze sprang up , and Murray was able to counter - attack with such effect , that the Tripolitan vessels fled back to the safety of the harbour under the protection of shore batteries . Unfortunately , after only four months Murray was superseded by Captain Richard V . Morris , and ordered to return to the United States . He complained about his treatment to the naval authorities without effect , and remained unemployed for the next few years . Later career . From July 1805 until late 1806 , Murray commanded the frigate , cruising along the eastern coast of the United States from New York to Florida protecting American commerce . In mid - 1807 , following the Chesapeake – Leopard Affair , Murray applied for another sea - command , but was refused . Murray applied once more on the outbreak of the War of 1812 , but was again rejected . Finally , in 1815 , Murray was appointed Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard , where he worked closely with chief shipwright Samuel Humphreys , and remained there until his death on October 6 , 1821 . Personal life . Murray was married to Mary Miller , and had two sons , Magnus Miller Murray ( twice Mayor of Pittsburgh ) and Alexander M . Murray . Magnus ' s son , also Alexander , became a naval officer , achieving the rank of Rear Admiral .