Background
Murray was born in Philadelphia, to Commodore Alexander Murray and Mary Miller Murray.
Murray was born in Philadelphia, to Commodore Alexander Murray and Mary Miller Murray.
He attended Pennsylvania University, earning both bachelor"s and master"s degrees in an era when many statesmen had only a grade school education.
Mayor Murray now rests in Section 19, Lot 29 of Allegheny Cemetery. On January 6, 1806 he was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar. Under Murray"s mayoral administration, the Western Terminus of the Pennsylvania Canal was completed along the Grant Street corridor of the city.
Murray was the first of a handful of Pittsburgh mayors to serve two non-consecutive terms in office, having to cede control of the mayor"s office to Matthew B. Lowrie from 1830 to 1831, before regaining his mayoral powers.
Member of The Society of the Cincinnati as the oldest male heir of Commodore Alexander Murray.