1st Officer Murdoch

William McMaster Murdoch was born on February 28, 1873 in Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. He was one of 6 children whom survived infancy. His father and grandfather were sea captains. He went to school first at Dalbeattie Primary School and got his diploma in 1887. He was then made an apprentice for 5 years on the "William Joyce and Coy" but mastered his 2nd officer's test on the first try at his 4th year. He then went on the "Charles Cosworth" for his final year. He went from ship to ship surviving3 shipwrecks and a voyage from New York to Shanghai. This was
the experience that got him a job with the White Star Line where he met Charles Lightoller whom was with him his whole career. He was on the "Medic", "Runic", "Arabic", "Celtic", "Germanic", "Oceanic", "Cedric", "Adriatic", "Majestic", "Olympic", and "Titanic". On the "Arabic", He met Ada Florence Banks in 1903 and through letters, he married her on September 2, 1907 at St. Deny's Church. He was
going to be promoted to Chief officer on the TITANIC but Wilde got the position demoting him and Lightoller whom was going to be 1st officer a rank lower. Nothing is known for certain how Murdoch died. Some said he shot himself some said they saw him getting Collapsible A down from the roof when water washed him off. Harold Bride
said he was on Collapsible B but died and was thrown overboard. His body was never
recovered. In the 1997 movie, Murdoch shot himself. The producers later had to
go to Scotland and apologize to his family for that scene.