Charles Murphy (Canadian politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles Murphy
The Honourable Charles Murphy, PC
Secretary of State for External Affairs
In office
May 19, 1909 – October 6, 1911
Prime MinisterWilfrid Laurier
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byWilliam James Roche
Secretary of State for Canada
In office
October 9, 1908 – October 6, 1911
Prime MinisterWilfrid Laurier
Preceded byRichard William Scott
Succeeded byWilliam James Roche
In office
November 13, 1925 – March 23, 1926 (Acting)
Prime MinisterW. L. Mackenzie King
Preceded byWalter Edward Foster
Succeeded byErnest Lapointe (Acting)
Postmaster General of Canada
In office
December 29, 1921 – June 28, 1926
Prime MinisterW. L. Mackenzie King
Preceded byLouis de Gonzague Belley
Succeeded byRobert James Manion
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Russell
In office
1908–1925
Preceded byNorman Frank Wilson
Succeeded byAlfred Goulet
Senator for Russell, Ontario
In office
September 5, 1925 – November 24, 1935
Nominated byW. L. Mackenzie King
Appointed byThe Viscount Byng of Vimy
Personal details
Born(1862-12-08)December 8, 1862
Ottawa, Canada West
DiedNovember 24, 1935(1935-11-24) (aged 72)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal Party of Canada
Laurier Liberal
Parents
  • James Murphy (father)
  • Mary Conway (mother)
OccupationLawyer

Charles Murphy PC (December 8, 1862 – November 24, 1935) was a Canadian politician.

Early life[edit]

He was born on 8 December 1862 in Ottawa, the son of James Murphy, who came to Ontario from Ireland,[1] and Mary Conway.[2] Murphy studied at Ottawa University and Osgoode Hall,[1] was called to the Ontario bar in 1891 and practised law in Ottawa.[2]

Politics[edit]

Murphy was elected as a Liberal MP for Russell (Ontario) in the House of Commons of Canada from 1908 to 1925.[3]

He held several cabinet positions in the Laurier and King governments, including Secretary of State for External Affairs (1909–1911), Postmaster General (1921–1926) and acting Secretary of State of Canada (1925–1926).[3]

He was later appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1925.

Later life and death[edit]

He died in office in Ottawa in 1935, at the age of 72.[2]

There is a Charles Murphy fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[4]

Electoral record[edit]

1908 Canadian federal election: Russell
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Charles Murphy 3,616
  Conservative John A. Gamble 2,470
1911 Canadian federal election: Russell
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Charles Murphy 3,812
  Conservative Joseph Ulric Vincent 2,836
1917 Canadian federal election: Russell
Party Candidate Votes
  Opposition (Laurier Liberals) Charles Murphy 5,895
  Government (Unionist) Duncan Cameron Merkley 3,768
1921 Canadian federal election: Russell
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Charles Murphy 9,069
Progressive Marshall Rathwell 6,836


By-election: On Mr. Murphy being appointed Postmaster General,
19 January 1921
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Charles Murphy acclaimed

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1921, EJ Chambers
  2. ^ a b c Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867–1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  3. ^ a b Charles Murphy – Parliament of Canada biography
  4. ^ "Finding aid the Charles Murphy fonds, Library and Archives Canada" (PDF).