Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/330

 lady whom he met in Paris in 1742 (Culloden Papers, p. 177), he died a bachelor (see will, P. C. C. 402, Bargrave). His library was sold in 1776 (, iii. 656).

Murdoch, having written the 68th stanza in canto i. of Thomson's 'Castle of Indolence,' in which he portrayed the poet, Thomson gave the next stanza as descriptive of Murdoch, referring to him as 'a little, round, fat, oily man of God.' Murdoch also wrote a short but clear and lively memoir of Thomson prefixed to the memorial edition of the poet's 'Works,' 2 vols. 4to, 1762, and to nearly all the later editions of 'The Seasons.'

To Colin Maclaurin's 'Account of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophical Discoveries,' 4to, London, 1748, which he saw through the press for the benefit of the author's children, he prefixed an account of his life. Another edition was issued in 1750, 8vo. He also edited the illustrations of perspective from conic sections, entitled 'Neutoni Genesis Curvarum per Umbras,' &c., 8vo, London, 1746. He contemplated a complete edition of Newton's works, and by 1766 had found a publisher in Andrew Millar [q.v.], but increasing infirmities obliged him to abandon the undertaking.

Murdoch was author of 'Mercator's Sailing, applied to the true Figure of the Earth; with an Introduction,' &c., 4to, London, 1741. To the 'Philosophical Transactions' he communicated eight papers, two of which 'Trigonometry abridged,' 1758, and 'On Geographical Maps,' 1758, exist in the original manuscript among the Additional MSS. in the British Museum (No. 4440, arts. 564 and 565). He translated from the German the portion of Anton Friedrich Buesching's 'New System of Geography,' which relates to the European states, 6 vols. 4to, London, 1762, and prefixed three explanatory essays.

Murdoch's letters to Dr. Thomas Birch, 1756-9, are in Additional MS. 4315; those to Sir Andrew Mitchell, 1756-70, are contained in Additional MS. 6840; while twelve letters by him are printed in the 'Culloden Papers,' 4to, 1815. His letterbook, when acting for Mitchell at Berlin, 1756-7, is Additional MS. 6841 (cf. Add. MSS. 6805, f. 48, 6839, f. 105).

 MURDOCH, THOMAS WILLIAM CLINTON (1809–1891), civil servant, born on 22 March 1809 in London, was son of Thomas Murdoch, F.R.S., of Portland Place, and Charlotte, daughter of John Leacock of Madeira. He was educated at the Charterhouse, and entered the colonial office as a junior clerk in 1826. In September 1839 he went out under Sir George Arthur to Canada to act as chief secretary, and, after acting also during part of 1841 as provincial secretary for Lower Canada, returned to the colonial office in September 1842. He became a senior clerk there in May 1846.

In November 1847 Murdoch was appointed to the important position of chairman of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, and it is in connection with the regulation of emigration and colonisation during the succeeding years that his name is best known. In 1870 he went to Canada on a special mission connected with the examination of the system of free grants to settlers. At the same time he carried important instructions on the Red River matter; and he went on to the United States to discuss the question of offences on British passenger ships plying to the States.

Murdoch was created a K.C.M.G. in 1870, and retired on pension in December 1876. He was a great reader, and spent his later years chiefly among his books. He died on 30 Nov. 1891, at 88 St. George's Square, London. He married in 1836 Isabella Anne, daughter of Robert Lukin of the war office, and left issue; the eldest son is C. S. Murdoch, C.B., of the home office.

 MURDOCK, WILLIAM (1754–1839), engineer, and inventor of coal-gas lighting, second son of John Murdoch, millwright, was born at Bellow Mill, near Old Cumnock, Ayrshire, on 21 Aug. 1754. His father and grandfather had been gunners in the royal artillery, and pay-sheets bearing their signatures are still preserved in the royal artillery records at Woolwich. He altered the spelling of his name after his arrival in England, on account of the inability of the Englishmen to give it the true guttural pronunciation, and this practice is continued by his descendants. Brought up to his father's trade, he obtained in 1777 employment under Boulton & Watt at Soho. According to a well-known story, Boulton was struck on his first interview with Murdock by the peculiar hat which he was wearing, and Murdock stated, in answer to Boulton's questions, that it was made of wood, and that he had turned it on a lathe of his own making. It appears that Murdock in his nervousness let the hat fall on the floor, and it was the unusual noise produced that attracted Boulton's attention. He was engaged by Boul- 