James Murray (1923–1961) was an

organic chemist Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, J.; ...

at the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

. He was the first twentieth-century lichenologist in New Zealand.

Career

James Murray worked at the

in Dunedin as a senior lecturer in chemistry. Murray began research with

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

. This was the first systematic work on the lichens of New Zealand since the 1890s. He revised the New Zealand lichens within the Coniocarpineae,

Peltigeraceae The Peltigeraceae are a family of lichens in the order Peltigerales. The Peltigeraceae, which contains 15 genera and about 600 species, has recently (2018) been emended to include the families Lobariaceae and Nephromataceae. Many Peltigeraceae sp ...

Teloschistaceae The Teloschistaceae are a large family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. The family, estimated to contain over 1800 species, was extensively revised in 2013, including the creation o ...

among others, as well as lichens from the Antarctic and Subantarctic regions. He spent 1959 on

sabbatical A sabbatical (from the Hebrew: (i.e., Sabbath); in Latin ; Greek: ) is a rest or break from work. The concept of the sabbatical is based on the Biblical practice of ''shmita'' (sabbatical year), which is related to agriculture. According to ...

working with the chemist

Derek Barton Sir Derek Harold Richard Barton (8 September 1918 – 16 March 1998) was an English organic chemist and Nobel Prize laureate for 1969. Education and early life Barton was born in Gravesend, Kent, to William Thomas and Maude Henrietta Barton ( ...

Imperial College, University of London Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...

. During this visit Murray also met with Peter James, a lichen specialist at the

Natural History Museum, London The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum an ...

. There were extensive nineteenth-century specimens of New Zealand lichens at both this museum and at

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,100 ...

. Murray was able to work with these specimens and with James. They began to define the genus ''

Sticta ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' more precisely, distinguishing it from ''

Pseudocyphellaria ''Pseudocyphellaria'' is a genus of large, leafy lichens that are sometimes referred to as "specklebelly" lichens.Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. ''Lichens of North America''. Yale University Press: New Haven. The genus has ...

'' and also other groups such as '' Menegazzia'', ''

Nephroma ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'', the

Pannariaceae The Pannariaceae are a family of lichens in the order Peltigerales (suborder Collematineae). Species from this family have a widespread distribution, but are especially prevalent in southern temperate regions. Genera According to a recent (20 ...

and the

Parmeliaceae The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: '' Xanthoparmelia'' ( 822 ...

that contained more species in the Southern Hemisphere. Murray also visited several other lichenologists in France and Sweden including Henri Des Abbayes, Michael Mitchell, Greta Du Rietz,

Adolf Hugo Magnusson Adolf Hugo Magnusson (1 March 188514 July 1964) was a Swedish naturalist who specialized in lichenology. He was a school teacher in Gothenburg from 1909 to 1948, but spent his spare time on the study of lichens. He described about 900 new taxa, ...

Gunnar Degelius Gunnar Bror Fritiof Degelius (né Nilsson until 1932; 27 January 1903 – 22 July 1993) was a Swedish lichenologist. Between the publications of his first and final scientific papers, Degelius had a 70-year-long research career. While he was ...

, Rolf Santesson and Einar Timdall. He returned to New Zealand in February 1961. After his death, his lichen specimens (over 10,000), notes and papers were donated to

and Peter James was seconded in 1962 to curate the collection. Murray's work on the natural products of lichens contributed to developments in this area and also became important to definition of genera in the ''Lobariaceae''. He developed keys to New Zealand lichen genera, some published posthumously.

Personal life

Murray was married to Audrey. He died in a car accident on 24 June 1961.

Publications

Murray was the author or co-author of scientific publications about organic chemistry and lichens. Some of his most significant were: * James Murray (1959
Studies of New Zealand Lichens. I—The Coniocarpineae
''Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand'' 88 (2) 177 - 195 * James Murray (1960
Studies of New Zealand Lichens. II—The Teloschistaceae
''Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand'' 88 (2) 197 - 210 * James Murray (1960
Studies on New Zealand Lichens Part III.–The Family Peltigeraceae
''Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand'' 88 (3) 381 - 399 * James Murray (1962

''Tuatara'' 10 (3) 120 - 128 (published posthumously) * James Murray (1963

''Tuatara'' 11 (1) 46 - 56 (published posthumously) * James Murray (1963

''Tuatara'' 11 (2) 98 - 109 (published posthumously)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, James 1923 births 1961 deaths New Zealand mycologists Lichenologists Organic chemists Road incident deaths in New Zealand

Career

Personal life

Publications

See also

References