David Murray

David Murray (ダビッド・モルレー, Dabiddo Morurē; October 15, 1830 – March 6, 1905) was an American educator and government adviser in Meiji period Japan.

Early life

Murray graduated from Union College in 1852.

Educator

During 1857–1863, Murray was as principal of The Albany Academy in New York. From 1863 to 1873,

he was a professor of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy at

Rutgers College in New Jersey.

Together with George Cook, Murray developed a full science curriculum at Rutgers, and successfully lobbied for Rutgers to be named the state's land grant college.

Their 1864-67 surveys established the marine boundary between New York and New Jersey, and their

1872 survey fixed the land boundary between New York and New Jersey. Murray was also responsible for the building of Rutgers' first astronomical observatory, the Daniel S. Schanck Observatory. In 1873, Murray departed Rutgers to become the educational advisor for the Japanese government. After his return, Murray served on the Rutgers College board of trustees from 1892 until his death in 1905.

In Japan, he was Superintendent of Educational Affairs in the Imperial Ministry of Education from 1873 through 1879.