A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Murray, James Copland
MURRAY. (Retired Commander, 1840. f-p., 11; h-p., 46.)
James Copland Murray, born 12 May, 1774, is eldest son of Alex. Murray, Esq., proprietor of the lands of Inglosten, and feudal superior of the Lordship of that ilk.
This officer entered the Navy, in July, 1790, as a Supernumerary, on board the Berwick 74, Capt. Benj. Caldwell, fitting at Portsmouth, and in the following Oct. removed to the Hind 28, Capt. Hon. Alex. Inglis Cochrane, attached to the force in the North Sea. Between the summer of 1793 and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 11 July, 1797, we find him serving as Midshipman, principally on the Home station, in the Spitfire sloop, Capts. Philip Chas. Durham and Jas. Cook, Hind again, Capts. P. C. Durham and Rich. Lee, and Union 44, also commanded by Capt. Durham. In the latter ship he took part in Lord Bridport’s action with the French fleet off Ile de Groix, 23 June, 1795, then accompanied the expedition sent under Sir John Borlase Warren to co-operate with the Royalists in Quiberon Bay, and witnessed the surrender, in March, 1796, of L’Etoile French frigate of 30 guns. On the occasion of his promotion as above he joined the Porcupine 24, Capt. Chas. Dudley Pater, with whom he continued until captured, while employed, we believe, on a detached service. On his restoration to liberty in March, 1799, he was appointed to the Wassenaar 64, commanded in the Channel and Baltic by Capt. Chas. Craven. He was next, from Jan. 1800 to Feb. 1801, emloyed in the Mediterranean on board the Inflexible 64, armée en flûte Capt. Benj. Wm. Page. Unable to procure any further appointment, he accepted the rank of Retired-Commander on the Junior List 26 Nov. 1830. His promotion to the Senior took place 13 July, 1840.
Independently of many cutting-out affairs, Commander Murray, during the term of his servitude afloat, was five times in action with the enemy. He married, 9 May, 1805, his cousin Helen, eldest daughter of Thos. Hunter, Esq., of Kirkconnell, by whom he has issue seven sons and two daughters.