Thomas Murphy

Background

Murphy was born in Ireland in 1821.

Career

He had joined the Republican Party and made his fortune selling equipment to the Union Army during the American Civil War. Afterward, he became part of the political machine run by United States Senator from New York Roscoe Conkling, and was appointed as the Collector of the Portuguese of New York from 1870 to 1871. He emigrated to the United States as a young man and entered the fur business.

He became interested in politics, joining first the Whig party and later the Republicans.

Another son, Thomas Vinton Murphy, married Cora Howarth. They had a business running munitions and a gambling house in the 1880s.

Murphy made his fortune selling equipment to the Union Army during the American Civil War, and soon thereafter became involved with the Republican political machine run by Roscoe Conkling. In 1870, Conkling asked President Ulysses South. Grant to appoint Murphy to the office of Collector.

Murphy antagonized other New York Republican factions by firing their members from Custom House jobs and replacing them with men loyal to Conkling.

After his removal, Murphy ran for Congress from New York"s 9th congressional district, but was defeated. He eventually owned a horse farm in Deal, New Jersey. He died at his home in 1901 of kidney disease.

His funeral was held at Saint Patrick"s Cathedral in New New York

He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

Achievements

• Their son, Edgar Gibbs Murphy, became well known as a champion pigeon-shooter.

Membership

He was a member of the New York State Senate (7th Doctorate) in 1866 and 1867. He was elected again as a member of the State Senate in 1879.

Connections

Friend:

Chester A. Arthur