MURPHY, James Cavanagh, an architect and antiquary, was born in Ireland, probably about the middle of the
eighteenth century, and resided for some time in Dublin. In 1789 he repaired to Portugal for the express purpose of examining the curious and uncommon Gothic architecture of the church of Batalha. His attention was also directed to the manners, trades, arts, and antiquities of the Portuguese provinces through which he passed. After his return he published, in 1792-96, Plans, Elevations, Sections, and Views of the Church of Batalha; in 1795, Travels in Portugal; and in 1798, A General View of the State of Portugal. These works were favourably received by the public, and their author was thus encouraged to proceed in the same line of research. Landing in Spain in 1802, he devoted the next seven years to the study of the architecture, arts, customs, and history of that country. The results of this investigation were published under the titles of The Arabian Antiquities of Spain, 1815; and The History of the Mahometan Empire in Spain, 1816. During the publication of this latter work Murphy died.