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James E. Murdoch (January 25, 1811 – 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, he entertained troops and performed benefits for the wounded. 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 almost twenty years. Currently, it is an unincorporated community. He was the uncle of the brothers Frank Murdock and Harry Murdock. The actor Harry Murdock perished in 1876 in the Brooklyn Theater Fire along with nearly three hundred others.〔http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hundreds-die-in-brooklyn-theater-fire retrieved 11/22/15〕 He was performing in the play Twp Orphans with Kate Claxton; who survived the fire. Frank Murdock was an actor, writer and painter,〔The Scoop, Magazine, Volume 4 Number 1, January 2, 1915, Chicago〕 who wrote the screenplay for the 1916 film Davy Crockett that starred William Farnum and was directed by William Desmond Taylor. During the last two years of his life he suffered from various ailments and was cared for by his two daughters, Fanny and Ida.〔 He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati. ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「James Edward Murdoch」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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