Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Murray, John (d.1820)
MURRAY, JOHN (d. 1820), chemist and physicist, a native of Scotland, was educated at Edinburgh, where he rose to eminence as a lecturer on natural philosophy, chemistry, materia medica, and pharmacy. He became M.D. of St. Andrews on 17 Oct. 1814, and was elected fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, on 7 Nov. 1815. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Geological Society of London. To the 'Transactions' of the former body (vol. viii.) he contributed four papers. Twenty-eight papers are assigned him in the Royal Society's 'Catalogue of Scientific Papers,' but those numbered 19 to 22, relative to the safety-lamp and explosions of firedamp, are by another John Murray (d. 1851) [q. v.] The two John Murrays had a discussion about the safety-lamp in the 'Philosophical Magazine.' Murray died in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 22 July 1820.
His works comprise: 1. 'Elements of Chemistry,' 2 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1801; 6th ed. 1828. 2. 'A Comparative View of the Huttonian and Neptunian Systems of Geology' (anon.), 8vo, Edinburgh, 1802. 3. 'Elements of Materia Medica and Pharmacy,' 2 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1804; 6th ed. 1832. 4. 'A System of Chemistry,' 4 vols. 8vo, Edinburgh, 1806–7; 6th ed. 1832.
His son, John Murray (1798–1873), who edited the later editions of his father's works, was born on 19 April 1798, graduated M.D. of St. Andrews in 1815, and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in November 1826. He afterwards emigrated to Melbourne, where he died on 4 June 1873.
[Gent. Mag. 1820, pt. ii. p. 185; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Royal Soc. List of Papers; information kindly supplied by Dr. G. A. Gibson, secretary Roy. Coll. Phys. Edinb., and J. Robertson, esq., secretary Roy. Coll. Surg. Edinb.]