Profile of Matthew Murray on Famous Like Me

Matthew Murray. Steam engine and machine tool manufacturer.

Matthew Murray was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1765. He was apprenticed to blacksmith, and before completing his training moved to Stockton where he undertook training as a whitesmith, and worked as a journeyman mechanic at a flaxmill in Darlington. With his wife, Mary, (1764-1836), he moved to Leeds in 1789 to work for John Marshall, a prominent flax manufacturer. Murray had been taking out patents for improved textile machines from 1790, and went into partnership with James Fenton, David Wood (1761-1820), and William Lister to establish a steam engine manufactory at Holbeck, which opened in 1795.

Murray was in charge of the engine-building department, while his partner, Wood, directed the machine-making. Fenton, Murray and Wood, quickly established a high reputation for the quality of their workmanship, and attracted the hostility of Boulton and Watt, who purchased land surrounding the workshop so preventing the firm from expanding. Boulton and Watt successfully challenged two of Murray's patents. Nevertheless the manufactory became serious rivals to Boulton and Watt.

Murray devised in 1799 a self-acting damper attached to the boiler for regulating the intensity of fire under it, and consequently the production of steam. He invented, or improved, the D-slide valve, made the air-pump more efficient, and simplified the design of the engine. To machine the rubbing surfaces the D-slide valve he invented his planing machine, and was the first to adopt the placing the piston in a horizontal position in the steam engine. As well as steam engines the firm made mill work and machine tools, and in 1804 began foreign export with an order for Sweden. In 1807 they manufactured for the Admiralty a steam engine for the Portsmouth Block Mills.

The manufactory was equipped with three steam engines for driving the machine tools. After manufacture the parts were assembled in a testing department, and when run-in and tested the engines were dis-assembled for packing and despatch. The manufactory was located on the banks of the Aire and Calder Canal, which gave access to Liverpool. The firm were renowned for the elegant design of their engines, and the quality of manufacture. They were pioneers of all-metal construction and the development of portable engines - engines which could be taken to pieces and easily moved to another location.

With Maudslays they were at the fore-front of engineering manufacture in this period.

The firm made, in 1811, a Trevithick-pattern high pressure steam engine, which was fitted to the paddle steamer l'Active, running out of Yarmouth, and also made for John Blenkinsop, manager of Brandling's Middleton Colliery, near Leeds, a steam locomotive whose drive was by means of a rack cast into the rails on which the engine travelled.

Murray made important improvements to the machinery for heckling and spinning flax and his heckling machine gained him the gold medal of the Society of Arts. At the time when these inventions were made the flax trade was on the point of expiring, the spinners being unable to produce yarn to a profit. Their effect the inventions was to reduce the cost of production, and improve the quality of the manufacture, thus establishing the British linen trade on a solid foundation. The production of flax-machinery became an important branch of manufacture at Leeds, large quantities being made for use at home as well as for exportation, giving employment to an increasing number of highly skilled mechanics.

Francis B. Odgen the American Consul in Liverpool ordered in 1816, several engines for steam boats, and a healty export trade was built up with the supply of orders from Russia. One of Murray's son's, Matthew, migrated to Russia where he worked as an engineer until his death in July 1835.

The firm supplied machinery for all kinds of purposes, ranging for large cylinder-boring engines for steam engine cylinders, large gear-cutting machines and lathes, to machines for gas and water works. After Bramah's patent for the hydraulic ram came into the public domain the firm made a range of ram actuated machines, including those for the pressing of packs of cloth, to chain-testing machines. The latter were important, for at this time the Navy and the merchant marine adopted heavy chains to secure anchors, and it was necessery that they would not fail in use. The firm were also involved in the construction of textile mills by the provision of iron work.

Matthew Murray died 20 February 1826 and was buried in St. Matthew's Churchyard, Holbeck. His tomb was surmounted by a cast iron obelisk. His firm survived until 1843. Several prominent engineers were trained there, including Benjamin Hick, and David Joy.

Web reference

• Armley Mills Museum, Leeds, illustrated page on Murray and his work.

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