John Murphy (Alabama)

John Murphy ( * 1785 or 1786 in Columbia, Robeson County, North Carolina; † September 21, 1841 in Clarke County, Alabama ) was an American politician ( Democratic- Republican), and 1825-1829 of the 4th Governor of Alabama.

Early years and political rise

Born in North Carolina John Murphy and his family moved to South Carolina, where he attended the South Carolina College and in 1808 graduated. There he was, together with the later Governor of Alabama, John Gayle, and the prominent politician James Dellet. After graduating, he worked from 1810 to 1817 as a clerk in the Senate of South Carolina. He was also the 1808-1818 Trustees of the University of South Carolina. He then moved to Alabama in 1818, where he became the owner of a plantation in Monroe County. He began to study law and was eventually admitted to the bar. Murphy decided to pursue a political career, beginning in 1819 as a member of the Constitutional Convention. He became in 1820 a member of the Alabama House of Representatives and the Senate in 1822 from Alabama.

Governor of Alabama

Alabama Governor Israel Pickens opted for Murphy as his successor. This was chosen virtually unopposed with 12,511 votes on 1 August 1825. His swearing-in ceremony took place on November 25, 1825; he was re-elected in 1827. The main problems during Murphy's tenure were the settlement of the wider dispute over the seat of the capital, the problems with the State Bank, the expulsion of the Creek Indians, the settlement between Mississippi and Alabama, as well as the boundary line between Georgia and Alabama. At the end of his term, the state capital of Cahaba was moved to Tuscaloosa and opened a mail route to New Orleans. In addition, the U.S. Congress approved a land sale to fund with the proceeds of the channel at Muscle Shoals.

Further CV

After his term as Governor, he went back to his plantation. After the botched election of 1831, he ran again in the election of 1833 for the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually won. He defeated his former classmate James Dellet, but in 1839 again defeated him. After that, Murphy retired to his plantation, where he died on 21 September 1841. He was buried on his plantation near Gosport. He was twice married: Sarah Hails and Sarah Carter. The result of these compounds were three children.