Thomas Murphy (Collector)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Murphy was a Collector of the Port of New York
from 1870 to 1871.
Murphy was born in Ireland
in 1821. 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
. In 1848, he married Mary Gibbs of Boston
; they would be married forty-nine years until her death in 1897. Murphy and his wife had five children. Their son, Edgar Gibbs Murphy, became well-known as a champion pigeon-shooter.
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 1866, he was elected to the New York State Senate
. In 1870, Conkling arranged for President Ulysses S. Grant
to appoint Murphy to the job 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. He became sufficiently unpopular that Grant was forced to replace him, nominating Murphy's friend, Chester A. Arthur
, to the post in his place.
After his resignation, Murphy ran for Congress from New York's 9th congressional district
, but was defeated. He owned a horse farm in Deal, New Jersey
. He died at his home in 1901 of a disease of the kidneys, and his funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
Collector of the Port of New York
The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, sometimes also as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York or Collector of Customs for the District of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import...
from 1870 to 1871.
Murphy was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1821. 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
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and later the Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. In 1848, he married Mary Gibbs of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
; they would be married forty-nine years until her death in 1897. Murphy and his wife had five children. Their son, Edgar Gibbs Murphy, became well-known as a champion pigeon-shooter.
Murphy made his fortune selling equipment to the Union Army during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and soon thereafter became involved with the Republican political machine
Political machine
A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses , who receive rewards for their efforts...
run by Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party and the last person to refuse a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had...
. In 1866, he was elected to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
. In 1870, Conkling arranged for President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
to appoint Murphy to the job 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. He became sufficiently unpopular that Grant was forced to replace him, nominating Murphy's friend, Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
, to the post in his place.
After his resignation, Murphy ran for Congress from New York's 9th congressional district
New York's 9th congressional district
New York's 9th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in New York City. It includes parts of southern Brooklyn and south central Queens...
, but was defeated. He owned a horse farm in Deal, New Jersey
Deal, New Jersey
Deal is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 750.Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township....
. He died at his home in 1901 of a disease of the kidneys, and his funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.