Matthew McCormick was born in 1222 in Salisbury, England. He first died in a jousting tournament in 1255 after being run through with a lance. After he revived as an Immortal, his first teacher was the Celtic warrior, Ceirdwyn.

He later found new Immortal, Cory Raines, and took him as a student in turn.

In 1859, while living in the American south, he freed the newly Immortal Carl Robinson from enslavement, and took him as a student. Matthew taught him what he was and about the rules of the Game. He then advised him to go North, and let his anger for Seth Hobart, his former master, go. As Hobart was his father-in-law, he did not want the two to cross paths again.

Carl, still angry, however, left his teacher, went through Hobart's fields and killed Hobart and his son. Matthew, called Carl's revenge murder, however, and turned on Carl, swearing to exact justice.