William murdock biography

William Murdoch lived from 21 August 1754 to 15 November 1839. He was an engineer with wide ranging interests who, amongst other things, devised a means of producing gas for public supply.

The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline.

William Murdoch (his name was sometimes spelled "Murdock" in England) was born near near Cumnock in East Ayrshire. He was the son of John Murdoch, a millwright who leased Bello Mill from the local laird, James Boswell.

How did william murdoch die

At school he excelled in mathematics, while he learned his practical engineering by helping his father. In 1763 the nine year old William helped his father build a "wooden horse", a tricycle driven by hand cranks.

It is said that in 1774 he helped his father build Craikston Bridge over the Lugar Water.

In 1777 the 23 year old William Murdoch walked the 300 miles to the Soho Foundry in Birmingham to ask James Watt for a job, p