Murdock, David, D.D., a Presbyterian divine, was born in the village of Eonhill, in Diimbartonsliire, Scotland, in 1801. His father was a stone-cutter, who often labored with the friends of Hugh Miller. David possessed indomitable energy, and obtained for himself a thorough and accomplished education. He graduated at Glasgow University ; studied theology in the theolog- ical scliool of the Scottish Independents; and was li- censed and ordained in Glasgow, according to the forms of the Scottish Congregation alists, about the year 1831. His first charge was the parish of Cambuslang, near Glasgow, a place memorable for the wonderful preach- ing of Whitefleld. In 1834 he accented an appointment from the Colonial Missionary Society as a missionary to Canada, and on his arrival in that country he resided principally at Bath, preaching as a supply to the desti- tute and feeble churches of that region. In 1837, about the time of the Patriot War, he left Canada, and was set- tled as the successor of Dr. McMaster at Pallston Cen- tre, N. Y.; in 1842 he accepted a call to Catskill as suc- cessor to the Kev. Dr. Porter. In 1851 he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Elmira, N. Y., where he labored until his death, .June 13, 18G1. Dr. ^Mnniock was emphatically a man of the people. In the ]iul|iit. in the lecture-room, on the platform, he was in- tkcd pre-eminent. He was a great reader, and especially a profound scholar in the sciences. He was eminently successfid as an essayist. An article by him on Can- nim/ and C/itilmeis, in the I'tesh. Quart. Rcvieti; is one of power. See Wilson, Presb. J list. Almanac, 18G2, p. 189. (J. L. S.)
Murdock, James, D.D., one of the profoundest religious and ecclesiastical scholars of the United States, a bright ornament of the Congregational body, was born at AVestbrook, Conn., Feb. 16, 177(5, of Irish descent. He was left an orphan at the age of fourteen ; but he strug- gled with his fate, and finally succeeded in making his way to Yale College, where he graduated in 1797. He then took up the study of tlieology under the well- known Congregational theologian, Dr. Timothy Dwight. Instead of entering at once the niinistrv, he decided to
teach for a wliile, and became successively preceptor of Hopkins grammar school in Xew Haven, and of the Onei- da Academy, now Hamilton College, at Clinton, X. Y. In January, 1801, he was admitted to the ministry, and June 23, 1802, was ordained pastor over the congre- gation at Princeton, Mass, In 1815 he removed from that place to become professor of languages in the Uni- versity of Vermont. In 1819 he exchanged this posi- tion for the Brown professorship of sacred rhetoric and ecclesiastical historj- in the theological seminar}- at An- dover, Mass., and this post he held until 1822, when he removed to New Haven to devote himself altogether to special studies in ecclesiastical history and Oriental lit- erature, which he prosecuted with a youthful zest beyond his fourscore years. He died at Columbus, Miss., Aug. 10, 185G. Dr. Murdock did the literarj' world great service by his superior ICnglish version of Mosheim's Church Uistoi-y. He published likewise, with great ac- ceptance, Mosheim's Comvieniuries on the Affairs of the Christians before Conslantine. See Mosiieim. Dr. Mur- dock published a translation of the Peshito-.Syriac N. T. (N. Y. 1851, 8vo). His miscellaneous productions were numerous and able. It was his temper to make fundamental researches, and to press his investigations into original sources. While at Andover he imblished Two Discourses on the A tonement. Later he brought out an English version of Jliinscher's Elements of Ihujuiatic Hist. (1830), and Sketches of Modern I'hilos. (1842). He also edited Milman's HiM. (f Christianity (X. Y. 1841), and brought out a collection of his Sermons, one of which, on the atonement, attracted much attention. He was also a frecjuent contributor to periodicals, especially to the Church Jicvieic, and this well-known quarterly did itself the honor to ignore its denominational boundaries (Protestant Ejiiscopal) and furnish a pretty full accoimt of the doctor shortly after his decease (see below). Dr. Murdock was president of the '• Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences," vice-president of the '• Connecti- cut I'hilosophical Society," and one of the foumlers of the "American Oriental Society." See Brief Memoirs of the Class of 17^7 (Yale), by Thomas Day; Church liev. Jan. 1857, art, ii. (J. H. W.)
Muret(us), Marc Antiioxv, a celebrated Koraau Catholic scholar, best known by his philosophical writ- ings, was born at Miuret, a village near Limoges, in France, April 11, 1526, of a good family. But little be- yond this is known of his early life. When about eight- een we find him studying at Agens, under Scaliger, who interested himself in jMuretus, and ever cherished the highest opinion of his pupil. In 1552 he delivered in the church of the Bernardins his first oration, l)e diymlale ac p?-(eslanti(i studii theoloj/ici. He was at this time teaching philosophy and law at Paris, but evidently leaning towards the sacred ministry. Accused of im- moral practices, he was finally obliged to quit Paris, and he led for some time a roaming life. He went to dif- ferent places, everywhere commanding for a time the respect of his followers by his vast and varied erudition, but his immoral tendencies would ever compromise him, and he was soon ignored by his associates. About 1560 JIuretus found employment under cardinal Este at Koine, and from that time he is believed to have led a more reg- ular life. In lo<;2 he attended his patron on a visit to Paris, and there remained, and was prevailed upon to lecture on Aristotle's Ethics, \s\\\c\\ he did with singular applause up to 1567. After that he taught civil law. In 1576 he entered holy orders, and is believed to have become both priest and Jesuit, He died June 4. 1585. He was made a citizen of Kome, probably by po|ie (ireg- ory XIII, who esteemed him very highly. jSlureins's theology is (luestioned, and he is believed to liave cher- ished deistical views. See Niceron, Memoires, vol. xxvii, s, V. ; Beze, Hist. Eccles. iv, 534 ; Vitrac. Elor/e Je Muret; Xew Gen. liioej. Diet. (Loud. 1798), xi, 138,141 ; Ilallam, Introd. to the Literature of Eurojie (Harper's ed,), i, 247, 257, 356 ; Pye Smith, Outlines of Theol. p. 111. i^J. H.W.)