Name James Murray | Died February 14, 1866 | |
James Boyles Murray (1789 – February 14, 1866) was a businessman and leading member of New York society in the early-to-mid-19th century.
Murray was born to a wealthy immigrant family. His lineage was descended from the royal Stewarts through the ubiquitous clan of Murray. His mother's family, that of Martha McClenahan, had been associated with the history of the Siege of Derry. Rev. McClenahan had been one of the Apprentice Boys supporters, when they marched out to meet King James army. The family, who were Presbyterians, migrated to Alexandria, Virginia, in 1760, where his father, Dr Archibald Murray, was in practice. James grandfather was Sir James Murray, baronet of Philiphaugh.
In 1800, when only a boy, Murray went to Norfolk, England, and caught a glimpse of the hero Admiral Nelson touring through his home city of Norwich. When only a small boy he had been warned of his Scots ancestry. He toured Philiphaugh, Scotland. He never forgot the supremacy of the seas of the Royal Navy, and vowed to help the President build a strong US Navy.
James was an early entrant in the New York Militia, replacing his gun-shy uncle in the War of 1812. Murray's service was distinguished and intelligent. Through his impressive revolutionary connections he rose quickly to become a Colonel.
From New York blood, he was inevitably very business-minded and commercially astute. He joined in partnership with the big financier Isaac Bronson, one of the founders of sound credit in public finance. As a result of the reflective determination of this close group to expand bank facility to construction of the American Empire, he borrowed heavily to finance the greatest canal construction project in history. The Erie Canal was an immense feat of ingenuity partly funded by the Bronson family bankers.
Murray was at the height of polite New York society and purchased a house at the fashionable Manhattan address of Washington Square Park. He married Maria Bronson, daughter of Isaac Bronson, founder of New York Assurance Company and Bridgeport Bank, in Park Place, New York City, December 1814. Bronson was in 1828 the richest man in New York.
In politics Murray was a friend of the Democratic-Republicans of the Albany Regency. Their leading character, De Witt Clinton, had been involved in scandal. But the successor, Martin Van Buren, proved both clever and honest. In 1816 Murray joined the staff of Vice-President candidate Daniel Tompkins, the Governor. Murray's role was to act as bodyguard and protector of the V-P. Then one day on the Chesapeake half of President Tyler's cabinet was blown sky high. Murray's political ambitions ended there and then.
Murray resolved to become a good business investor in land speculations and construction projects. He continued to do business with the Bronson sons. He became involved in rather dubious Rutherford Land Grab of 1834 in the Carolinas, but was not convicted. He was also in a partnership that invested extensively in the 'Ohio Country' as far west as Chicago and Kalamazoo.
In later life Murray made extensive business trips to France and England. He was particularly pleased with Paris where his daughter married the American Impressionist painter, William Dana (artist). Murray went on tour to Scotland and visited the high society circles of London. His public appearances attracted fees. Murray deplored the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the duration of which he spent in New York City.
Murray died in 1866 at 4 Washington Place, New York City. His family was later related to William Cutting (of Gangs of New York fame).