A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Murray, James
MURRAY. (Lieut., 1802. f-p., 25;[1] h-p., 28.)
James Murray entered the Navy, in 1794, as a Volunteer, on board the Seaflower 16, Lieut.Commander Jas. Murray, employed on the Home station, where, we believe, he assisted, as Midshipman, at the capture, 19 March, 1800, of the Chaser French privateer, of 14 guns and 37 men. Proceeding soon afterwards to the West Indies in the Severn 44, Capts. John Whitby and Geo. Barker, he was there, some months after his removal to the Leviathan 74, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, promoted, 4 Dec. 1802, to a Lieutenancy in the Stork 18, Capts. Fred. Cottrell and Geo. Le Geyt. On 23 May, 1805, being sent with two boats, carrying between them 18 men, under the orders of Lieut. Geo. Robinson, into a harbour near Cape Roxo, in the island of Puerto Rico, Mr. Murray assisted in gallantly boarding and capturing a brig, together with a Dutch privateer, the Antelope, pierced for 5 guns, the two vessels being defended by at least 40 men.[2] In this affair he was slightly wounded. On 3 Sept. 1806 we find him officially mentioned for the great assistance he afforded, as chief of a detached party under the direction of Capt, Edw. Rashwork, of the Supérieure brig, at the storming of a battery containing 6 long 18-pounders, mounted on travelling carriages, at Batabano, in the island of Cuba, and the seizure of a number of armed and other vessels there collected.[3] After serving for a few months in the Intrepid 64, Capts. Christopher John Williams Nesham and Geo. Andrews, he obtained command, 30 Dec. 1809, of the Exertion gun-brig, in which vessel, it appears, he continued, on the North Sea station, until July, 1812, when she unfortunately took the ground in the river Elbe, and was in consequence destroyed by H.M.S. Redbreast. Between May, 1813, and Oct. 1815, Mr. Murray was again employed in the West Indies, on board the Shark sloop and Argo 44, bearing each the flag of Vice-Admiral Chas. Stirling, and Thracian 18, Capt. John Carter. In June, 1820, he received an appointment to the Coast Guard; and, from 9 March, 1843, until 1847, he served at Sheerness in the Ocean 80, Capts. Peter Fisher, Rich. Arthur, and David Price.
In consideration of the wound above noticed the Lieutenant was presented with a gratuity from the Patriotic Fund. Agent – Fred. Dufaur.