Franklin Murphy was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 31st Governor of New Jersey, from 1902 - 1905.
Background
Franklin Murphy was born on January 3, 1846, in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of William Hayes Murphy and Abby Elizabeth Hagar. He came of colonial stock, being a descendant of Robert Murphy, who settled in Connecticut in 1756, and whose son moved to New Jersey in 1766, and later fought in the Revolutionary War.
Through his grandmother, Sarah Murphy (Lyon), he was descended from another soldier in the Revolution - Benjamin Lyon, who was a private in the Essex New Jersey Light Horse.
When Franklin was ten years old, his parents moved from Jersey City to Newark.
Education
Murphy attended the Newark Academy until he was sixteen.
Career
In 1862, Murphy enlisted as a private in the 13th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers. During nearly three years of active service, he took part in nineteen battles, including Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Mountain. He was mustered out as a first lieutenant in June 1865.
Immediately upon returning to civil life, though only nineteen years of age, he organized in Newark the firm of Murphy & Company, varnish manufacturers. This concern grew steadily until in 1891 it was incorporated as the Murphy Varnish Company, with its founder as president. Under his direction a system of profit-sharing for all employees was introduced, and also a pension system. In 1915 he resigned as president, to be succeeded by his son, Franklin Murphy, Jr. , but he remained chairman of the board of directors until his death.
After securely establishing himself in business, Murphy entered politics as a Republican. He became a member of the Newark common council in 1883, and served until 1886, in the last year as president. In 1885 he was elected to the state Assembly. The range of his public interests is shown by his work as a trustee of the state reform school at Jamesburg, 1886 - 1889; as the commissioner who planned Essex County's system of parks, 1895 - 1902; as one of the American commissioners to the Paris Universal Exposition in 1900; as a member of the board of managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1905 - 1912; and as president-general of the national society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 1898 - 1900. In 1897 he declined the ambassadorship to Russia.
Murphy was for many years chairman of the Republican state committee, and from 1900 to 1918 was a member of the Republican National Committee. In 1908 he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for vice-president, receiving seventy-seven votes at the national convention in Chicago, and in 1916 was defeated by Joseph S. Frelinghuysen as a candidate for the nomination for United States senator. He was a delegate to five national conventions (1900 - 1916).
The most valuable public service which he rendered, however, was during his three years as governor of New Jersey. Elected in 1901, Murphy entered office at the beginning of 1902, and immediately applied the methods of the successful business man to the affairs of state. The result was that during his administration New Jersey enacted its first primary-election law, child-labor law, workshop-ventilation law, and tenement-house-commission law. Moreover, he introduced a complete audit system of state expenditures, and compelled banks to pay interest on state deposits. Murphy abolished the fee systems in state and county offices. Largely through his efforts the state sanitarium for tuberculous patients was established at Glen Gardner, and an appropriation was made for the industrial school for colored children at Bordentown. Even after he retired from the governorship, he exerted considerable influence on the politics of the state. His death occurred on February 24, 1920, at Palm Beach, Florida.
Achievements
Politics
Franklin Murphy was active in Republican politics.
Personality
In private life, Franklin Murphy was well liked for his courtesy and good humor.
Interests
Franklin Murphy was a man of culture, interested in American history and particularly in patriotic societies.
Connections
On June 24, 1868, Franklin Murphy married Janet Colwell of Newark. The couple had two children.