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Thomas Murphy (1821 – August 17, 1901) was an Irish-American businessman and politician fromNew York City, serving as a New York state senator for a total of three terms, 1866 through 1867, and in 1879. He had joined theRepublican Party and made his fortune selling equipment to theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War. Afterward, he became part of thepolitical machine run by US Senator from New YorkRoscoe Conkling, and was appointed as theCollector of the Port of New York from 1870 to 1871.
Murphy was born inIreland in 1821.[1] He emigrated to the United States as a young man and entered the fur business.[1] He became interested in politics, joining first theWhig party and later theRepublicans.[2]
In 1848, he married Mary Gibbs (died 1897), and they had five children. Their son,Edgar Gibbs Murphy, became well known as a champion pigeon-shooter.[3] Another son, Thomas Vinton Murphy, marriedCora Howarth. They had a business running munitions and a gambling house in the 1880s.[4]
Murphy made his fortune selling equipment to the Union Army during theAmerican Civil War, and soon thereafter became involved with the Republicanpolitical machine run byRoscoe Conkling.[1] He was a member of theNew York State Senate (7th D.) in1866 and1867.[1] In 1870, Conkling asked PresidentUlysses S. Grant to appoint Murphy to the office of Collector.[2] Murphy antagonized other New York Republican factions by firing their members from Custom House jobs and replacing them with men loyal to Conkling. Murphy became sufficiently unpopular so that Grant was forced to replace him, appointing Murphy's friend,Chester A. Arthur, to the post in his place.
After his removal, Murphy ran for Congress fromNew York's 9th congressional district, but was defeated.[2] He was elected again as a member of the State Senate in1879.
He eventually owned a horse farm inDeal, New Jersey.[1] He died at his home in 1901 of kidney disease. His funeral was held atSt. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.[2] He was buried atWoodlawn Cemetery inthe Bronx.
| New York State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 7th District 1866–1867 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 7th District 1879 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Collector of the Port of New York 1870–1871 | Succeeded by |
