John McMurdo was chamberlain to the Duke of Queensberry in Drumlanrig Castle. Robert Burns is said to have inscribed this verse on a window pane of his friend McMurdo’s house.
“Blest be M'Murdo to his latest day!
No envious cloud o'ercast his evening ray;
No wrinkle, furrow'd by the hand of care,
Nor ever sorrow add one silver hair!
O may no son the father's honour stain,
Nor ever daughter give the mother pain!”