John Joseph Murphy (Newfoundland MHA)

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John Joseph Murphy
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly
In office
1908–1913
ConstituencyHarbour Main
Personal details
Born(1849-05-13)May 13, 1849
Catalina, Newfoundland
DiedAugust 4, 1938(1938-08-04) (aged 89)
St. John's, Newfoundland
Political partyPeople's
EducationSaint Bonaventure's College
OccupationBusinessman, politician

John Joseph Murphy (May 13, 1849 – August 4, 1938) was a businessman and politician. He represented Harbour Main in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1908 to 1913 as a People's Party member.[1]

Biography[edit]

The son of James Murphy, a ship's captain, and Alice McDonald, he was born at Catalina and was educated at Saint Bonaventure's College. In 1869, he became manager of the Greenspond branch of the firm Ridley and Sons. From 1871 to 1876, Murphy operated his own fishery supply business. In 1876, he established a shipbuilding company and sawmill at Gambo. In 1893, he built a hotel in Gambo. He sold his sawmill and timber cutting rights to Newfoundland Timber Estates in 1904. By 1914, he had become majority share-holder for United Towns Electric Company; he was elected company president the following year. In 1919, he formed the Avalon Telephone Company.[1] In 1932, he set up the Dominion Broadcasting Company and radio station VONF.[2]

Murphy did not run for reelection to the Newfoundland assembly in 1913. However, he was named to the Legislative Council later that year and served there until 1934.[1]

Murphy died in St. John's at the age of 89.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Baker, Melvin (Spring 1989). "John Joseph Murphy". Newfoundland Quarterly. LXXXIV (4).
  2. ^ "John Joseph Murphy" (PDF). Business Hall of Fame. Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Achievement. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2015.