Alexander Megarey
1790-1850

 
Alexander Megarey was born in Ireland in 1790 and served an apprenticeship to William Morris of London beginning in 1802 before moving to New York sometime before 1822. The New York City Directories from 1822 to 1850 list Megarey as a mathematical instrument maker.
 
Listings in New York directories are as follows:
 
1822 Mageray Alexander 59 Robinson
1823 Megarey Alex   54 Grand
1824 - 1827 Megarey Alex math inst. maker 54 Grand
1827 Megarey Alex math inst  maker 64 Lispenard
1828 Megarey Alex math inst  maker 3 Thames
1829 Megarey Alex math inst  maker   3 Thames h 13 Pearl
1830 Megarey Alexander   math inst  maker 196 Water
1833 Megarey Alex   math inst  maker 238 Water 41 Hamilton
1836 - 1839 Megarey Alex   math inst  maker 190 Water 41 Hamilton
1842 Megarey Alexander   math instruments   190 Water h. 41 Hamilton
1845 Megarey Alexander   math instruments   100 Water h.  166 Madison
1848 Megarey Alexander   math insts 100 Water h.  73 Adams Brooklyn
1850 Megarey Alexander   math insts 100 Water h. Bridge Brooklyn
 
Instruments marked as having been made in Brooklyn, N.Y. were probably bought, not made, by him.
 
In the 1840s he established a Navigation Warehouse at 190 Water Street offering nautical charts and instruments, most of which were imported from England. He was an agent for Spencer, Browning & Company in London and published “Megarey’s Nautical Almanac” published by order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, London. He also operated a small shop for the manufacture and repair of surveying instruments.
 
Some variant spellings of his name are Megeary and Mageary.
 
Alexander Megarey died November 7, 1850 in New York.