Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: A mụrụ Murchison na Tarradale House, Muir nke Ord, Ross-shire, nwa Kenneth Murchison. Nna ya bara ọgaranya nwụrụ na 1796, mgbe Roderick dị afọ anọ, e zigara ya ụlọ akwụkwọ Durham afọ atọ ka e mesịrị, wee gaa Royal Military College, Great Marlow ka a zụọ ya maka ndị agha. N'afọ 1808, ya na Wellesley rutere na Portugal, ma nọrọkwa n'ihe omume nke
Roliça na Vimeiro na Agha Peninsular dị ka ensign na 36th Regt of Foot. Mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị n'okpuru Sir John Moore, o sonyere na ịlaghachi azụ na Corunna na agha ikpeazụ ebe ahụ.