SIR JOHN MURRAY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14919, 18 March 1914, Page 9

SIR JOHN MURRAY.

Sir John Murray, who was chiefly noted for his work as a member of the famous Challenger expedition, and editor of the report dealing with, the scientific results of the expedition, was born at Coburg, Ontario, on March 3rd, 1841, and began his education at Coburg and at London (Ontario). In 1858 he was. sent to Scotland, where ! his education was continued nnder private tuition, at the High School, Stirling, and at the Univteif-i't-y ol Edinburgh. He also studied on the Continent. In 1868 he visited Spitzbergen and the Arctic regions as naturalist on board a whaler. Four years later he received an appointment as naturalist on board H.M.S. Challenger on her voyage of circumnavigation to investigate the physical and biological conditions existing in • the great ocean basins. The expedition occupied four years, and at its conclusion he was made first assistant of the staff appointed to undertake the preparation of the report, and in 1832 editor. Other expeditions in which he took part at that time were the Triton and Knight Errant expeditions to explore the Faroe Channel. In 1883 he was instrumental in procuring funds for the establishment of a meteorological observatory on Ben Nevis. 'Between. 1882 and 1894 he made a series of scientific observations about the coast of Scotland in his yacht Medusa, and founded marine stations for scientific research at Granton, near Edinburgh, and at Millport, on the west coast, in recognition of his scientific work Sir John Murray was elected corresponding member and honorary member of many British andj foreign academies and societies, was awarded the Cuvier Prize and medal and the Institnt de France, the Humboldt medal and others. Ho was also made Knight of the Prussian Order pour le mt?rito, and received in 1910 the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He was created a Knight in 1898. His works include numerous papers on subjects connected with geography, oceanography, marine biology and limnology, and reports on the results of various expeditions. The Challenger Report, published in 50 royal quarto volumes in 1896, forms the most extensive work of tho kind ever issued from the press.