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A Scottish Engineer, Poet, Author, Journalist
Alexander Murdoch was born in Taylor Street, St Mungo Parish, Glasow on 23rd of April 1841. It was only in later years that he
added his mother's surname, Gregor, as his middle name.
His parents were James Murdoch (Sawyer) and Rebecca Gregor, who, in addition to Alexander in 1841, had a John in 1839, a
Jean/Jane in 1843, and a Rebecca in 1846.
The 1851 Census for 37 Taylor Street, taken on the 30th March, 1851, shows Alexander as a Scholar, his mother Rebecca, as Head of House, a Victualler to trade, and her other three children. Her husband James is not listed, so had possibly died between 1841 and 1851.
The 1861 Census for 41 Taylor Street, taken on the 7 April, 1861, shows Alexander as an Engine Fitter, his mother as a Grocer, her son John as a Warehouse Muslin Clerk and her daughter Jane as a Warehouse Muslin Girl.
In 1867, Alexander, describing himself as a Journeyman Engine Fitter, married Marion Calton in her home at 16 Hospital Street,
Glasgow.
The 1871 Census for 121 Duke Street, Glasgow, taken on the 2nd of April, 1871 shows Alexander as a Sewing Machine Maker
(probably with the Singers Sewing Machine Company) with his wife Marion and two children, Alexander Jnr., aged three and William
aged 8 months.
It appears that his marriage and the births of another four children before the 1881 Census on the 3rd of April, 1881, did not in any way hamper Alexander Snr.'s literary efforts and ambitions in the 1870s, for, not only did he contribute many serious and humorous poems to the 'Glasgow Weekly Mail', but also published two volumes of poetry, namely, 'Lilts On A Scottish Lyre' in 1873 and 'The Laird's Lykewake and Other Poems' in 1877. Then in 1879 he won the medal offered by the committee of the Burns Monument at Kilmarnock for a poem on the Ayrshire Bard and afterwards accepted a position on the staff of the 'Glasgow Weekly Mail'. While with the 'Mail', Alexander G. Murdoch, as he then styled himself, developed his prose ability by writing several popular serial stories and then published at least two more books, namely, 'Recent And Living Scottish Poets' in 1883, and 'Scotch Readings - Humorous And Amusing' in 1889. But sadly, he died of Nervous Debility and Pleurisy at his home in 38 Bellgrove Street, Glasgow, on the 12th February 1891.
We are adding his books at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/browne/
Alastair
Alexander Murdoch was born in Taylor Street, St Mungo Parish, Glasow on 23rd of April 1841. It was only in later years that he
added his mother's surname, Gregor, as his middle name.
His parents were James Murdoch (Sawyer) and Rebecca Gregor, who, in addition to Alexander in 1841, had a John in 1839, a
Jean/Jane in 1843, and a Rebecca in 1846.
The 1851 Census for 37 Taylor Street, taken on the 30th March, 1851, shows Alexander as a Scholar, his mother Rebecca, as Head of House, a Victualler to trade, and her other three children. Her husband James is not listed, so had possibly died between 1841 and 1851.
The 1861 Census for 41 Taylor Street, taken on the 7 April, 1861, shows Alexander as an Engine Fitter, his mother as a Grocer, her son John as a Warehouse Muslin Clerk and her daughter Jane as a Warehouse Muslin Girl.
In 1867, Alexander, describing himself as a Journeyman Engine Fitter, married Marion Calton in her home at 16 Hospital Street,
Glasgow.
The 1871 Census for 121 Duke Street, Glasgow, taken on the 2nd of April, 1871 shows Alexander as a Sewing Machine Maker
(probably with the Singers Sewing Machine Company) with his wife Marion and two children, Alexander Jnr., aged three and William
aged 8 months.
It appears that his marriage and the births of another four children before the 1881 Census on the 3rd of April, 1881, did not in any way hamper Alexander Snr.'s literary efforts and ambitions in the 1870s, for, not only did he contribute many serious and humorous poems to the 'Glasgow Weekly Mail', but also published two volumes of poetry, namely, 'Lilts On A Scottish Lyre' in 1873 and 'The Laird's Lykewake and Other Poems' in 1877. Then in 1879 he won the medal offered by the committee of the Burns Monument at Kilmarnock for a poem on the Ayrshire Bard and afterwards accepted a position on the staff of the 'Glasgow Weekly Mail'. While with the 'Mail', Alexander G. Murdoch, as he then styled himself, developed his prose ability by writing several popular serial stories and then published at least two more books, namely, 'Recent And Living Scottish Poets' in 1883, and 'Scotch Readings - Humorous And Amusing' in 1889. But sadly, he died of Nervous Debility and Pleurisy at his home in 38 Bellgrove Street, Glasgow, on the 12th February 1891.
We are adding his books at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/browne/
Alastair