Thomas E. Murray American inventor and entrepreneur Date of Birth: 21.10.1860 Country: USA

Biography of Thomas Murray

Thomas Murray, an American inventor and entrepreneur, was born in Albany, New York. He began working at the age of 9 and quickly rose to prominence as he managed most of the power stations in New York City. His innate abilities and exceptional analytical mind contributed to his success.

As an inventor and entrepreneur, Thomas Murray created a number of power stations in New York City and developed various electrical devices that remain relevant to this day, such as dimmer switches and screw-in fuses. Murray was considered one of the most remarkable and productive inventors in world history, holding 462 patents, second only to Thomas Edison. Interestingly, Murray surpassed his legendary namesake in many aspects. He never claimed patents for inventions made by his subordinates, insisting on registering them under the inventors' names and then transferring them to the company. Additionally, Murray paid close attention to including all co-authors in patent applications.

Murray's father passed away when he was 9 years old, and he had to take on three jobs to support his family. In 1875, Murray became an apprentice at Albany Iron & Machine Works. By 1881, at the age of 21, he became the chief engineer at Albany Waterworks. In 1887, Murray was hired by Anthony N. Brady and given control over the Albany Municipal Gas Co power station. Murray impressed Brady with his exceptional inventiveness and engineering talents, and it was clear that Murray had a bright future ahead of him.

On July 15, 1890, Thomas Murray received his first patent for a piston sealing design. In the early 20th century, he took control of several key power stations in New York City, supplying electricity to a significant portion of the city. Eventually, Murray managed almost all of Edison's power stations in New York, Brooklyn, and Westchester.

In 1910, Thomas Murray was awarded the Edward Longstreth Medal by the Franklin Institute. Besides his active engineering and inventive work, Murray dedicated much of his time to spiritual matters and played a key role in the local Catholic Church. Murray was renowned for hosting Catholic Mass in his home and having a personal altar.

Thomas Murray passed away on July 21, 1929, at his summer estate in Southampton, Long Island, New York, after several months of illness. He was 69 years old at the time of his death. His son, Thomas Murray Jr., also became an engineer and worked with Thomas Edison for a period of time.

On December 28, 1934, five years after Murray's death, the last patent in his name was officially registered, describing a method for manufacturing boiler tubes. In 2011, Thomas Murray was honored with a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his invention of the electric fuse.

In 2010, a documentary film titled "Dad's in Heaven with Nixon" was released, with Tom Murray, the great-grandson of the renowned inventor, serving as the producer, director, and screenwriter. The film focused on Tom's brother, the autistic artist Chris Murray, but it also delved into the Murray family history, including the story of Thomas Murray himself.