Alexander Murray (1816–1884)

Rear Admiral Alexander Murray (2 January 1816 – 10 November 1884) was a flag officer in the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

Biography

Early career

Murray was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was entered the Navy as a midshipman on August 22, 1835. He served aboard the schooner in the West Indies Squadron in 1836–38, and on the steamer off the Atlantic coast in 1839–41, receiving promotion to passed midshipman on June 22, 1841.

He then served on the sloop in the Home Squadron in 1841–43, and the schooner in the Pacific Squadron in 1844–45. He returned to the Home Squadron in 1846, to participate in the capture of Alvarado, Tabasco, Tuxpan, Veracruz, and Tampico during the Mexican War.

Murray then served in the United States Coast Survey from 1846 to 1849, and was promoted to
master on March 23, 1847, and received his commission as lieutenant on August 12, 1847.

Murray served aboard the razee in the Mediterranean Squadron in 1849–51, and was stationed on the receiving ship at Norfolk in 1852–53. He was placed on the Reserved List on September 13, 1855, not returning to Active status until August 12, 1857. Murray then served on the Coast Survey in 1858–60.

Civil war

At the start of the Civil War Murray was given command of the screw steamer and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. ''Louisiana'' operated along the coast of Virginia, blocking the passage of Confederate blockade runners, and attacking their bases. On 13 September 1861, ''Louisiana'' and the frigate engaged the Confederate steamer off Newport News, but shots from both sides fell short.

In early 1862 ''Louisiana'' was part of the naval forces supporting Ambrose Burnside's North Carolina Expedition, and Murray saw action at a series of battles; at Roanoke Island on February 8, Elizabeth City on February 10, and New Bern on February 14.

In May 1862 Murray commanded a combined Army-Navy operation on Virginia's York and Pamunkey Rivers, destroying twenty-seven enemy vessels, including two large steamers, and approaching within of Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. He was promoted to commander on July 16, 1862, and was assigned to duty in the Sounds of North Carolina in 1863. He was then stationed at Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire, until the end of the war.

Post-war career

Murray was appointed to command of the steamer on April 2, 1866, and was promoted to captain on July 25. In May 1866, ''Augusta'' embarked Gustavus Fox, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and sailed on a cruise, accompanied by the monitor and the gunboat . The purpose of the cruise was threefold; firstly to convey Fox to Russia as President Andrew Johnson's representative to Tsar Alexander II, secondly to demonstrate the monitor's ability to operate in the open sea, and thirdly to cultivate friendly international relations. After the three ships arrived at Queenstown, Ireland, ''Ashuelot'' sailed independently to the Far East, and ''Augusta'' and ''Miantonomoh'' then visited England, before finally arriving at Kronstadt in August. After a month's stay in Russia, during which the Tsar and members of the royal family visited the ships, they called at Stockholm, Sweden, Kiel, Germany, and ports in France, Portugal, and Spain. After transiting the Strait of Gibraltar, the ships spent Christmas at Málaga, Spain, before spending the next four and a half months visiting ports in the Mediterranean Sea. They returned home via the Canary Islands, Cape Verdes, Barbados, and the Bahamas, finally arriving at Philadelphia on 22 July 1867.

Murray then served as commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1869. He was promoted to commodore on June 19, 1871, and to rear admiral, on April 26, 1876, and served on the Lighthouse Board, and commanded the Pacific Station. Murray was placed on the Retired List on April 30, 1878.

Murray was a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Murray died on November 10, 1884, in Washington, D.C.

Namesakes

* Three ships, , and () were named for him and his grandfather, Commodore Alexander Murray.

References

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Alexander
1816 births
1884 deaths
Union Navy officers
United States Navy admirals
People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War
United States Coast Survey personnel