Background
The son of Thomas Murphy and Catherine McCarthy, he was born in Saint John"s and was educated at Saint Bonaventure"s College.
The son of Thomas Murphy and Catherine McCarthy, he was born in Saint John"s and was educated at Saint Bonaventure"s College.
He represented Saint John"s East in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1886 to 1894 and from 1897 to 1904. Murphy studies law with John Hoyles Boone and went on to practice in the same office. He was admitted to the bar in 1886.
Murphy ran unsuccessfully for the Harbour Main seat in the Newfoundland assembly in 1885 before being elected in a by-election held in Saint John"s East the following year.
He was unseated in 1894 and then reelected in 1897. In 1904, he was named deputy minister of justice.
He retired from that post in 1907 to return to the practice of law.
Murphy served as crown prosecutor, as a member of the Fisheries Commission and as governor of the Savings Bank.