Mogridge, George, born at Ashted Feb. 17th, 1787, and brought up as a japanner, was the original “Old Humphrey” of our childhood’s days, the author of “Grandfather Grey,” “Old Humphrey’s Walks in London,” “Old Humphrey’s Country Strolls,” and other juvenile works, of which many millions of copies have been sold in England, America, and the Colonies.  “Peter Parley’s Tales” have been also ascribed to our townsman, who died Nov. 2, 1854.

Munden, T.—­In the year 1818, Mr. Munden (born in London in 1798) came to this town as organist of Christ Church, and was also chosen as teacher of the Oratorio Choral Society, and to this day it may be said that the reputation of our Festival Choir is mostly based on the instruction given by him during his long residence among us.  From 1823 till 1849 Mr. Munden acted as Assistant-conductor at the Festivals, retiring from public life in 1853.

Muntz.—­The Revolution in 1792 drove the Muntz family to emigrate from their aristocratic abode in France, and a younger son came to this town, where he married a Miss Purden, and established himself in business.  From this alliance sprung our race of the Muntzes.  George Frederic, the eldest, was born in November, 1794, and losing his father in early life, was head of the family in his 18th year.  He devoted himself for many years, and with great success, to mercantile affairs, but his most fortunate undertaking, and which has made his name known all over the world, was the manufacture of sheathing metal for ships bottoms.  It has been doubted whether he did any more than revive another man’s lapsed patent, but it has never been questioned that he made a vast sum of money out of the “yellow metal.”  In politics, G.F.M. took a very active part, even before the formation of the Political Union in 1830, and for many years he was the idol of his fellow-townsmen.  He was elected M.P. for Birmingham, in January, 1840, and held the seat till the day of his death, which took place July 30, 1857.  His name will be found on many a page of our local history, even though a statue of him is not yet posed on a pedestal.

Murdoch, William.—­Born at Bellow Mill, near Old Cumnock, Ayrshire, in 1750, and brought up as a millwright, came here in search of work in 1777.  He was employed by Boulton at 15s. per week for the first two years, but he soon became the most trusted of all the many engaged at Soho, and never left there though offered L1,000 a year to do so.  The first steam engine applied to drawing carriages was constructed by him in the shape of a model which ran round a room in his house at Redruth in 1784, and which is still in existence.  As an inventor, he was second only to Watt, his introduction of gas lighting being almost equal to that of the steam engine.  He lived to be 85, dying November 15, 1839, at his residence, Sycamore Hill, Handsworth.  His remains lie near those of his loved employers, Boulton and Watt, in the parish church.