Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Murchison akaberekerwa paTarradale House, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire, mwanakomana waKenneth Murchison. Baba vake vakapfuma vakafa muna 1796, apo Roderick akanga ane makore mana okukura, uye akatumirwa kuDurham School makore matatu gare gare, uye ipapo Royal Military College, Great Marlow kuti adzidziswe nokuda kweuto. Muna 1808 akaburuka naWellesley muPortugal, uye akanga aripo pakuita kwaRoliça
uye Vimeiro muHondo yePeninsular semukuru mu36th Regt of Foot. Gare gare pasi paSir John Moore, akatora rutivi mukudzokera kuCorunna nehondo yokupedzisira ikoko.