James Murray (biologist)
Encyclopedia
James Murray was a biologist and explorer.
on the Nimrod Expedition
. He was in charge of base camp.
After the expedition, in 1913, he co-wrote a book titled Antarctic Days with George E. Marston, also a member of the expedition.
In 1911, at 46, he joined up with Percy Fawcett
, the celebrated explorer, Henry Costin and Henry Manley to explore and chart the jungle in the region of the Peru-Bolivian border. Murray, used to the rigors of the polar region
s, fared poorly. Eventually Fawcett diverted the expedition to get Murray out, such was his condition. He briefly dropped out of sight, having been recovering in a house in Tambopata
. He reached La Paz
in 1912, learning that he was thought to have perished.
Murrary, angry at perceived mistreatment at Fawcett's hands, wanted to sue, but friends in the Royal Geographical Society
advised him against it.
In June 1913, he joined a Canadian scientific expedition to the Arctic aboard the ill-fated Karluk
as oceanographer. The ship became trapped in the Arctic ice in August 1913. Eventually, Murray mutinied against the captain and escaped across the ice with three others. Their fate remains uncertain.
Career
In 1902, he helped on a biological survey of the Scottish lochs. In 1907, at the age of 41, he served under ShackletonErnest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE was a notable explorer from County Kildare, Ireland, who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...
on the Nimrod Expedition
Nimrod Expedition
The British Antarctic Expedition 1907–09, otherwise known as the Nimrod Expedition, was the first of three expeditions to the Antarctic led by Ernest Shackleton. Its main target, among a range of geographical and scientific objectives, was to be first to the South Pole...
. He was in charge of base camp.
After the expedition, in 1913, he co-wrote a book titled Antarctic Days with George E. Marston, also a member of the expedition.
In 1911, at 46, he joined up with Percy Fawcett
Percy Fawcett
Lt. Colonel Percival Harrison Fawcett was a British artillery officer, archaeologist and South American explorer....
, the celebrated explorer, Henry Costin and Henry Manley to explore and chart the jungle in the region of the Peru-Bolivian border. Murray, used to the rigors of the polar region
Polar region
Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. The North Pole and South Pole being the centers, these regions are dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica...
s, fared poorly. Eventually Fawcett diverted the expedition to get Murray out, such was his condition. He briefly dropped out of sight, having been recovering in a house in Tambopata
Tambopata District
Tambopata District is one of four districts of the province Tambopata in Peru.TAMBOPATA RIVERThe river is an attraction by itself, with its crystal-clear water and its bank of rocks and sand permit to see the surroundings of flora and fauna.Lakes...
. He reached La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
in 1912, learning that he was thought to have perished.
Murrary, angry at perceived mistreatment at Fawcett's hands, wanted to sue, but friends in the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
advised him against it.
In June 1913, he joined a Canadian scientific expedition to the Arctic aboard the ill-fated Karluk
HMCS Karluk
The Karluk was an American-built brigantine which, after many years' service as a whaler, was acquired by the Canadian government in 1913 to act as flagship to the Canadian Arctic Expedition. While on her way to the expedition's rendezvous at Herschel Island, Karluk became trapped in the Arctic...
as oceanographer. The ship became trapped in the Arctic ice in August 1913. Eventually, Murray mutinied against the captain and escaped across the ice with three others. Their fate remains uncertain.
Further reading
- Niven, Jennifer (2001). The Ice Master. London: Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-39123-2.
- Shackleton, Heart of the Antarctic.