Murchison
SIR RODERICK IM- PEY, an English geologist; born in Tar- MURCHISON, SIR RODERICK IMradale, Ross-shire, Scotland, Feb. 19, 1792. After receiving a portion of his education at the Durham grammar school, he entered the military college at Marlow the 36th regiment. In 1828 he accomin 1805, and left in two years subsepanied Sir Charles Lyell in a geological quently, ly, on receiving a commission in tour among the extinct volcanoes of panied Sir Charles Lyell in a geological in rocks in the sea-cliffs W. of Milford Haven, England. The term "Silurian in discovering the whole series of Silurian System which is the name of his first great work, was first used by him. The result of his several expeditions was pub- "Geology of Russia and the Ural Mounlished in 1845, in a volume, entitled this book Murchison was knighted. tains." Shortly after the publication of "Geology of Russia and the Ural Moun- Organic Re the Distribution of Gold over the Earth." of the oldest known Rocks containing In 1855 he was appointed Director-General of the Geological Survey of Great
Remains, with a Brief Sketch of Britain and Director of the Metropolitan School of Science applied to Mining and the Arts. He died Oct. 22, 1871. ed. In Britain and Director of the Metropolitan the Arts. He died Oct. 22, 1871. School of Science applied to Mining and MURDER S. W. of Alicante. It stands in the productive vale of Murcia, an old-fashioned Moorish town, embosomed in gardens of mulberry, orange, fig, palm, and other fruit trees. Almost the only notable buildings are the bishop's palace and the cathedral, this last begun in 1353, but reconstructed in 1521, and surmounted by a fine bell tower. Silks, saltpeter, soda, gunpowder, musical instruments, and glass are manufactured; fruit growing, the preparation of olive oil, and the weaving of esparto also flourish. Alfonso X. of Castile took the city from the Moors in 1263; an earthquake almost destroyed it in 1829; and it was captured by the insurgents in 1843. Pop. about 150,000. The province of Murcia has an area of 4,478 square miles; pop. about 650,000. With the present province of Albacete it was an independent Arab kingdom for 27 years in the 13th century.