James E. Murdoch (January 25, 1811 â€" May 19, 1893) was an American
actor and elocutionist.James Edward Murdoch (sometimes spelled
"Murdock") was born in Philadelphia, the eldest of four sons of Thomas
and Elizabeth Murdoch. James apprenticed under his father in the
business of bookbinding. He served as a volunteer fireman with the
Vigilant Company. In 1829, he made his first dramatic appearance as
Frederick in Kotzebue's play Lover's Vows. He had his first lead role
in 1830 with the traveling company of Vincent DeCamp. The following
year, he married Eliza Middlecott. In 1832, while suffering from
indigestion, he accidentally ingested a preparation of arsenic. A
doctor was called in and saved his life, but thereafter he would
suffer health problems and fatigue.During the succeeding years he took
various roles on the stage. His career prospects began to take a turn
for the better in 1845 when he played the role of Hamlet at Park
Theater, New York. For years afterward, he was considered the best
performer of Hamlet on the American stage. For the next fifteen years
he played a variety of roles and became a leading light on the
American stage. He co-authored a work titled, Orthophony; or the
Cultivation of the Voice, in Elocution in 1847. In 1850, Murdoch
relocated to southern Ohio, buying a home in Cincinnati and a farm in
southern Warren County. In 1853, he appeared in California as an early
acting pioneer for that region. A visit to England in 1856 led to an
engagement at the Haymarket Theatre that lasted for over one hundred
consecutive nights.During the American Civil War, Murdoch was unable
to actively serve in the war. His son's enlistment, though, led him to
halt his acting career in order to give public performances that
supported the Union's efforts. The proceeds raised from his public
reading were used to aid wounded soldiers, while his reading
selections â€" such as Joseph Drake's "American Flag" â€" were
designed to invoke a sense of patriotism. He was so successful as a
public platform reader that President Lincoln personally requested his
performance of an anonymous poem criticizing dishonorable peace in
1864. After the war, the residents of the area in Warren County, Ohio
surrounding Murdoch's farm petitioned to have the region renamed
Murdoch, Ohio in his honor. Murdoch, Ohio retained a post office for
more than thirty years. Currently, it is an unincorporated community.
actor and elocutionist.James Edward Murdoch (sometimes spelled
"Murdock") was born in Philadelphia, the eldest of four sons of Thomas
and Elizabeth Murdoch. James apprenticed under his father in the
business of bookbinding. He served as a volunteer fireman with the
Vigilant Company. In 1829, he made his first dramatic appearance as
Frederick in Kotzebue's play Lover's Vows. He had his first lead role
in 1830 with the traveling company of Vincent DeCamp. The following
year, he married Eliza Middlecott. In 1832, while suffering from
indigestion, he accidentally ingested a preparation of arsenic. A
doctor was called in and saved his life, but thereafter he would
suffer health problems and fatigue.During the succeeding years he took
various roles on the stage. His career prospects began to take a turn
for the better in 1845 when he played the role of Hamlet at Park
Theater, New York. For years afterward, he was considered the best
performer of Hamlet on the American stage. For the next fifteen years
he played a variety of roles and became a leading light on the
American stage. He co-authored a work titled, Orthophony; or the
Cultivation of the Voice, in Elocution in 1847. In 1850, Murdoch
relocated to southern Ohio, buying a home in Cincinnati and a farm in
southern Warren County. In 1853, he appeared in California as an early
acting pioneer for that region. A visit to England in 1856 led to an
engagement at the Haymarket Theatre that lasted for over one hundred
consecutive nights.During the American Civil War, Murdoch was unable
to actively serve in the war. His son's enlistment, though, led him to
halt his acting career in order to give public performances that
supported the Union's efforts. The proceeds raised from his public
reading were used to aid wounded soldiers, while his reading
selections â€" such as Joseph Drake's "American Flag" â€" were
designed to invoke a sense of patriotism. He was so successful as a
public platform reader that President Lincoln personally requested his
performance of an anonymous poem criticizing dishonorable peace in
1864. After the war, the residents of the area in Warren County, Ohio
surrounding Murdoch's farm petitioned to have the region renamed
Murdoch, Ohio in his honor. Murdoch, Ohio retained a post office for
more than thirty years. Currently, it is an unincorporated community.
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