1. John McMurdo was a friend of Robert Burns who became the chamberlain to the Duke of Queensberry at Drumlanrig Castle where the poet was a frequent visitor.
13 Facts About John McMurdo
1. 2.
John McMurdo's eldest daughter Jean was a close friend of Burns, who wrote the song "Bonie Jean" in her honour.
3.
John McMurdo's father was Robert McMurdo of Drungans and his mother was Philadelphia Douglas.
4.
John McMurdo married Jane Blair, daughter of David Blair, daughter of the Provost of Dumfries and the couple had seven sons and seven daughters.
5.
Burns wrote a poem in tribute to John McMurdo and engraved the verses onto a window pane at John McMurdo's accommodation in the castle:.
6.
Steven Clarke, musical editor of "The Scots Musical Museum" was persuaded by Burns to travel down from Edinburgh to teach Jean and Philadelphia Barbara John McMurdo to sing and play the piano.
7.
At the Whistle competition held at Friars Carse John McMurdo was appointed as the judge.
8.
John McMurdo introduced Burns to Colonel De Peyster who was the major commandant of the Dumfries Volunteers of which Burns was a member.
9.
John McMurdo had married De Peyster's wife's sister and towards the end of his life he purchased Mavis Grove and relatives still lived there in the 1860's.
10.
John McMurdo wrote "Bonie Jean" for one of McMurdo's daughters and wrote requesting permission to present it to his daughter, with the prescient comment "I assure you, I am not a little flattered with the idea, when I anticipate children pointing out in future Publications the tributes of respect I have bestowed upon their mothers".
11.
In 1794 John McMurdo became the Provost of Dumfries and Burns had mentioned the couple in his "Election Ballad" of 1790:.
12.
John McMurdo remained a good friend of Burns until his death and acted as a trustee of the funds raised to assist Jean Armour and her family.
13.
Syme, Maxwell and John McMurdo had already met the day before Burns's death to discuss raising funds for the Jean and the family.