Maxwell Murray was born on June 19, 1885, at West Point, New York, a son of Major General Arthur Murray (the first Chief of the Coast Artillery Corps) and his wife Sarah Wetmore DeRussy, daughter of Union Brigadier General René Edward De Russy.

Murray attended the United States Military Academy from 1903–1907, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry on June 14, 1907.

Between 1919 and 1920, Murray took a special course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and after graduation, he was transferred to the Office of Chief of Field Artillery, under the command of Major General William J.

Subsequently, Murray was transferred back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was appointed a member of Field Artillery Board.

[4] Murray also received an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Legion of Merit for his service in Western Defense Command.

Major General Maxwell Murray died of a heart attack on August 4, 1948, at the age of 63 years at his home in Siasconset, Massachusetts.