Andrew Murray (naturalist)

Andrew Murray (1812 – 1878) was a Scottish lawyer, botanist, and entomologist.

Murray practiced as a solicitor in Edinburgh. His interest in natural history, particularly entomology, grew alongside his legal career. He never formally trained as a scientist, making him largely self-taught in these fields.

Murray's primary scientific focus was Coleoptera (beetles), particularly the beetle fauna of the Pacific Northwest of North America and of various other parts of the world. He published extensively on these topics, including descriptions of many new species. He also devoted considerable time and effort to the study of economically important insects, such as those impacting forestry. He wrote extensively on the issue of invasive species and their impact on native ecosystems.

His collections formed a significant part of the natural history collections of the Royal Scottish Museum (now National Museums Scotland) in Edinburgh.

Selected Publications:

• Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Scotland (1853)
• The Pines and Firs of Japan (1863)
• Economic Entomology Aptera (1877)
• Economic Entomology, Division I. Vermes (1877)

Legacy:

Andrew Murray's contributions to the understanding of Coleoptera, particularly in regions like the Pacific Northwest, remain significant. His work on economic entomology and invasive species also highlighted the importance of these issues. The beetle Platyrrhinus murrayi is named in his honor.