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Nathan Oakes Murphy (October 14, 1849 – August 22, 1908) was an American businessman and politician. Two time Governor of Arizona Territory.

Background
Murphy was born in Lincoln County, Maine on October 14, 1849 to Benjamin F. and Lucy (Oakes) Murphy. In 1856, his family moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin where he was educated in public schools. Following his studies, Murphy served as a teacher from 1866 till 1869. After this he became involved with various mining efforts and with the practice of law. Murphy also moved to California before permanently settling in Prescott, Arizona Territory in the early 1880s. In Prescott he partnered with his brother, Frank Morill Murphy, in a variety of real estate and mining ventures. By 1887 he was made a land agent for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Murphy and his brother followed this by founding the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway, Frank serving as the new railroad's president.

Murphy married Sarah E. "Nellie" Banghart, the daughter of an Arizona pioneer, on August 6, 1884. As a result of this marriage, he became the brother-in-law to newspaperman John H. Marion and Judge Edmund W. Wells. The couple had one son, Paul Tritle Murphy, and were divorced on September 19, 1903. Murphy married his second wife, Emma D. Sells, on April 11, 1904.

In temperament, Murphy was a direct and outspoken individual with views typical of a late 19th century Republican. He was also noted for his habit of wearing musk perfume at all times. As a result of this predilection, an unfriendly newspaper labeled him the "Knight of the Musk Bottle".

Territorial Secretary
Nominated for position of Secretary of Arizona Territory by President Benjamin Harrison. Commissioned on March 12, 1889.

Appointment occurred while 15th Arizona Territorial Legislature was in session.

First duties included informing Treasury dept of damage to Legislature's furniture following three week trip from Prescott to Phoenix.

Supported Governor Wolfley in efforts to deal with Democratic appointees who refused to turn over records and materials related to their duties to new Republican appointees. Did not however support all of Wolfley's actions and counseled governor to show more restraint.

Served as Acting Governor during period between Wolfley's resignation and John N. Irwin's arrival.

Service during 16th Arizona Territorial Legislature:
 * Recommend adoption of Australian or secret ballot
 * Construction of bridge over Salt River near Phoenix
 * Establishment of a reform school
 * Outlaw gambling on the ground floor of all buildings
 * Initiate action to obtain statehood

Finding of eleven "lost laws"

First administration
Following the resignation of Governor Irwin, Nominated by President Benjamin Harrison to become Governor of Arizona Territory on April 21, 1892.

Revived senate confirmation on May 9, 1892.

Although he had applied for the position following the resignation of Governor Wolfley, Murphy did not become governor until May 11, 1892 following the resignation of Governor Irwin.

Territorial Delegate
In 1894, Territorial Delegate Mark Smith decided not to run for reelection. Murphy was nominated to be the Republican candidate for Smith's seat by Maricopa county chairman Myron H. McCord. He ran on a platform supporting immediate statehood, free coinage of silver at a 16 to 1 ratio, lower taxes, and opposed to the return of Apache who had been removed from the territory. In Arizona's first use of the secret ballot, Murphy received 5,648 votes while Democratic candidate John C. Herndon and Populist candidate Buckey O'Neill split the Democratic base, gathering 4,773 and 3,006 votes respectively.

Upon reaching the U.S. House of Representatives, Murphy was assigned to serve on the Committee on Territories, the Committee on Mines and Mining, and the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures.

Second administration
Formation of Arizona Rangers

Misuse of discretionary fund

After office
Following his resignation, Murphy and his second wife traveled extensively, visiting Europe and the Mediterranean before returning to Arizona and staying in a resort at Castle Hot Springs. He was admitted to the Arizona bar in 1901, but rarely practiced law. During a visit to the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, Murphy died suddenly on August 22, 1908. He was initially buried in San Diego, California before his remains were moved in 1909 to the Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C..