William Murdock
Encyclopedia
William Murdock was a Scottish
-born American
statesman in colonial Maryland
. During the tensions leading up to the American Revolution
he was an important spokesman for the rights of the colonists. He was a delegate representing Maryland in the Stamp Act Congress
of 1765.
Murdock was the son of Reverend George Murdock, who brought his family from Scotland to Prince George's County, Maryland
, in the U.S.
about 1726.
When protests over the Stamp Act
resulted in calling a Congress
of the several colonies in New York, the Assembly sent Murdock as one of its deputies. His voice and experience were an important factor in the Statement of Rights and Grievances produced by the Congress.
Murdock married Anne Addison, and the couple had eight children before she died in 1753. Murdock died on October 17, 1769, at his home, Padsworth Farm, in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
statesman in colonial Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. During the tensions leading up to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
he was an important spokesman for the rights of the colonists. He was a delegate representing Maryland in the Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting on October 19, 1765 in New York City of representatives from some of the British colonies of North America. They discussed and acted upon the Stamp Act recently passed by the governing Parliament of Great Britain overseas, which did not include any...
of 1765.
Murdock was the son of Reverend George Murdock, who brought his family from Scotland to Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
about 1726.
When protests over the Stamp Act
Stamp Act 1765
The Stamp Act 1765 was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp...
resulted in calling a Congress
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting on October 19, 1765 in New York City of representatives from some of the British colonies of North America. They discussed and acted upon the Stamp Act recently passed by the governing Parliament of Great Britain overseas, which did not include any...
of the several colonies in New York, the Assembly sent Murdock as one of its deputies. His voice and experience were an important factor in the Statement of Rights and Grievances produced by the Congress.
Murdock married Anne Addison, and the couple had eight children before she died in 1753. Murdock died on October 17, 1769, at his home, Padsworth Farm, in Prince George's County, Maryland.
See also
- Scottish AmericanScottish AmericanScottish Americans or Scots Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Scotland. Scottish Americans are closely related to Scots-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots, and communities emphasize and celebrate a common heritage...