He was born near Paisley, Scotland in 1804 and came to Upper Canada in 1833 to work in a York (Toronto) dry goods business affiliated with a Glasgow-based firm.

He served on the Public School Board in Toronto for a number of years and was chairman from 1865 to 1867 and in 1870.

In 1867, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for York North as a Liberal; he was defeated in 1871.

His eldest son, William Barclay McMurrich, was a mayor of Toronto.

His second son, George McMurrich, was a long-time alderman on Toronto City Council.