John Murray

Who was John Murray?

John Murray was a seaman and explorer of Australia. He was the first European to discover Port Phillip, the bay on which the cities of Melbourne and Geelong are situated.

He is believed to be born in Edinburgh and began his naval career as an able seaman in 1789. He served as a midshipman in the Polyphemus from October 1794 to May 1797; as mate in the Apollo from May to December 1797, as second master and pilot of the Blazer from January to July 1798 and as mate of the Porpoise from October 1798 to July 1800. Later that year he passed his lieutenant's examination.

In November 1800 he arrived in New South Wales on the ship Porpoise. He accompanied James Grant as mate on the Lady Nelson on the surveys of Jervis Bay, Westernport Bay and the Hunter River in 1801. After his return to Sydney Grant resigned his command, and in September Governor King appointed Murray as acting lieutenant and commander of the Lady Nelson.

After a voyage to Norfolk Island, Murray was instructed to continue the exploration of the southern coastline.