David Murray
(1831-1893) merchant Cellardyke
David Murray, was born to a Cellardyke fisher family. In 1852, he joined the expedition organised by his uncle, Capt. Alexander Rodger, to the goldfields of Australia. However he established his living away from the diggings, working for the Coastguard service. Later, he became part owner/captain of a schooner. While lying at anchor, a vessel caused a collision in which David’s leg was so crushed that it had to be amputated below the knee. He was not to be held back and shortly after became the managing partner of new store in Williamsburgh. However, on the condition of his wound he returned to Scotland to consult the doctors in the hope of a better recovery.
Staying back in Cellardyke in 1859 he met with Mr James Fowler, General Merchant, who wished to retire, and for Murray to succeed him in his thriving business. To achieve this David formed a partnership with George Sharp and formed one of the most successful businesses Cellardyke has known, Sharp and Murray.
They expanded to fishcuring, and in 1862 built a net and oilcloth manufactory in Cellardyke. They were the major employer in the town with almost seventy people on their books. They established branches in Aberdeen, Balta Sound Shetland, and Yarmouth, becoming one of the largest curing businesses in Scotland, with a reputation for superior quality fishing clothing and equipment. They also opened a branch in Australia exporting tins of herring and dried seafood products. Sharp and Murray was a familiar household name in the farthest corners of the outback.
David was Treasurer of the disenfranchised Kilrenny Burgh. In 1868 at the first election for the new Cellardyke Town Council, he was offered the post of Provost but declined to become a Bailie, a post he held for 33 years. He was a member of the School Board, the Waid Governors, Anstruther Union Harbour Commissioners and represented Kilrenny at Fife County Council.
The business continued to be very prosperous. However, in 1884, owing to the large bounties paid to the fishermen at the North, and the failure of the fishing, the firm filed for bankruptcy. They re-established again and went on until 1892, when on the death of George Sharp, David Murray took the business into his own hands selling off everything except the curing business.
David Murray died in his sleep whilst working at Yarmouth in 1893, he had sent a telegram home the day before with no indication of illness, he left a widow and one daughter and he was buried in Kilrenny Churchyard.
Research by Richard Wemyss
