About Orin G. Murfin
Lived 1876 – 1956 (aged 80). Orin G. Murfin was an American military officer.
Admiral Orin G. Murfin (center) as President of the Navy Court of Inquiry for the Pearl Harbor attack
Orin Gould Murfin (April 13, 1876 – October 22, 1956) was an admiral in the United States Navy.
Murfin served as the commanding officer of in 1916; , 1923–1925; and , 1928–29. During World War I, he supervised U.S. mine-laying bases in Scotland, for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. From 1931 to 1934, Murfin was the Navy's Judge Advocate General.
He also served as Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet, 1935–36. From there, Murfin became the commandant of the 14th Naval District, where he led the Navy's participation in the search for Amelia Earhart when her plane went missing in 1937.
Born in Scioto County, Ohio, Murfin received his early education in Jackson, Ohio. He then attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1897. Murfin served aboard the battleship during the Spanish–American War. He retired from active duty in May 1940.
Following his retirement, Murfin served as the President of the Navy Court of Inquiry following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The court's conclusions were regarded as too lenient by Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal; see Edward C. Kalbfus.
Murfin and his wife Anna settled in Coronado, California, after his retirement. He died on October 22, 1956, at the Naval Hospital, Balboa Park in San Diego and was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
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Important facts
People in Orin G. Murfin's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Orin G. Murfin?
United States Navy admiral (1876–1956)
When was Orin G. Murfin born?
Orin G. Murfin was born on 13 April 1876 in Ohio, Scioto County.
When did Orin G. Murfin die?
Orin G. Murfin died on 22 October 1956 in San Diego, Naval Medical Center San Diego.
What was Orin G. Murfin's occupation?
Orin G. Murfin was a military officer.
What nationality was Orin G. Murfin?
Orin G. Murfin was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Orin G. Murfin. https://biography.guide/orin-g-murfin/
MLA: "Orin G. Murfin." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/orin-g-murfin/.
Chicago: "Orin G. Murfin." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/orin-g-murfin/.
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