Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/329

 of 'The Nun of Watton' he is represented as appearing to the nun after his death and bringing her help ( ap. Decem Scriptores, col. 419). The foundation of Watton in Yorkshire had been confirmed by him as archbishop (Monasticon, .vi. 955).  MURDAC or MURDOCH, second (d. 1425). [See .]

MURDOCH, JOHN (1747–1824), miscellaneous writer and friend of Burns, was born at Ayr in 1747. He received a liberal education in that town and finished his studies at Edinburgh. For some time he was assistant at a private academy and was afterward appointed master of Ayr school. Among his pupils was Burns, who is described by Murdoch as being 'very apt,' but his ear was 'remarkably dull and his voice untuneable.' Desiring to extend his knowledge of the world, he left Ayr for London, and spent the night before his departure at the house of Burns's father, reading aloud part of the tragedy of 'Titus Andronicus,' by which the poet was much affected. Several letters subsequently passed between Burns and Murdoch. After a short stay in London Murdoch went on to Paris, where he formed a lifelong intimacy with Colonel Fullarton, secretary to the British embassy. On his return to London Murdoch taught the French and English languages with much success, both at pupils' houses and at his own house in Staple Inn. Talleyrand during his residence 'as an emigrant in this country was taught English by him. Murdoch fell into much distress in old age and was obliged to appeal to the public for support. The 'Gentleman's Magazine' inserted a notice begging for aid for him (1824, pt. i. p. 165). He died on 20 April 1824. His wife, whom he married in 1780, survived him.

Murdoch edited the stereotyped edition of 'Walker's Pronouncing Dictionary.' His own works consist of: 1. 'An Essay on the Revolutions of Literature,' translated from the Italian of Signor C. Denina, 1771. 2. 'A Radical Vocabulary of the French Language,' 1782. 3. 'Pictures of the Hearts,' 1783, a collection of essays, tales, and a drama. 4. 'The Pronunciation and Orthography of the French Language,' 1788. 5. 'The Dictionary of Distinctions,' 1811, to facilitate spelling and pronunciation. In this book 'The Tears of Sensibility' was announced as preparing for publication. It was to contain novels from the French of D'Arnaud, but no copy is to be found in the British Museum Library.

 MURDOCH, PATRICK (d. 1774), author, a native of Dumfries, was educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself in mathematics and was the pupil and friend of Colin Maclaurin [q. v.] In 1729 he was appointed tutor to John Forbes, only son of Lord-president Duncan Forbes of Culloden, and visited with him Orleans, Montauban, Rome, and other continental cities. Forbes subsequently paid Murdoch long and frequent visits at Stradishall rectory, Suffolk, and placed his eldest son, Duncan, under his tuition (, Lives of Lord Lovat and Duncan Forbes, pp. 344-6). Murdoch was likewise travelling tutor to the younger sons of James Vernon, ambassador to the court of Denmark. He was presented by James Vernon to the rectory of Stradishall in 1738, when his friend, James Thomson, addressed to him some pleasing lines (Works, ed. 1762, i. 457). On 20 March 1745 he was elected F.R.S. (, Hist. of Royal Soc. App. iv. p. xliv), and in 1748 was admitted M.A. at Cambridge per literas regias. William Leman gave him the rectory of Kettlebaston, Suffolk, in 1749, which he resigned in 1760 on being presented by Edward Vernon to the vicarage of Great Thurlow; but he still continued to reside at Stradishall. In 1756 he accompanied his friend Andrew (afterwards Sir Andrew) Mitchell (1695 ?-1771) [q.v.], to Berlin, where he remained until 1757, conducting part of the correspondence, while Mitchell and his secretary, Burnet, were with the army (, Memoirs of Sir A. Mitchell, i. 37-41). Shortly after his return home, he received the degree of D.D., presumably from the University of Edinburgh. Murdoch died in October 1774 in St. Clement Danes, London (, Lit. Anecd. viii. 465; Probate Act Book, P. C. C. 1774). He appears to have been amicable and simple-hearted, and a good scholar. Though he speaks of his engagement to a