William Leslie Goudie Muir was born in Blairmore in Argyll, Scotland in 1910 . His father, Thomas, was a piermaster. At the age of 17 he entered the University of Glasgow . In his first academic session, 1927-1928 , he matriculated in Mathematics, Applied Physics and Chemistry. In the following session, 1928-1929 , he matriculated in Higher Maths, Engineering and Engineering Drawing. In his third year, 1929-1930, he took classes in Mine Design, Applied Mechanics II, Geology, Metallurgy and Civil I. In his final academic year, 1930-1931 , he studied Mining, Mining Design and Surveying, Mechanics III and Geology II. He graduated BSc in March 1931, having passed his examinations in the Civil Engineering group in Higher Natural Philosophy, Geology and Mineralogy. In 1932 Muir travelled to Canada where he spent a year visiting the main mining areas of Eastern Canada, and combined this with a trip to the USA to see one of the iron ore producing districts. He graduated from McGill University in Montreal in 1933 . In the General Council Registers of the University of Glasgow he is listed as a mining engineer.
From the guide to the Papers of William Leslie Goudie Muir, b 1910, engineering graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, c.1932-1935, (Glasgow University Archives Service)
