Robert F. Murphy (politician)

Robert F. Murphy
Murphy c. 1945
59th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
In office
January 3, 1957 – October 6, 1960
GovernorFoster Furcolo
Preceded bySumner G. Whittier
Succeeded byEdward F. McLaughlin, Jr.
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 21st Middlesex District
In office
1943–1955
Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1949–1953
Succeeded byJohn F. Thompson
Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1953–1955
Preceded byCharles Gibbons
Succeeded byCharles Gibbons
Chairman of the Metropolitan District Commission
In office
1960–1964
Preceded byJohn L. Maloney
Succeeded byHoward J. Whitmore, Jr.
Personal details
BornJanuary 24, 1899
Somerville, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 9, 1976 (aged 76)
Malden, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materMalden public schools, Dean Academy, Trinity College
ProfessionJournalist

Robert F. Murphy (January 24, 1899 – January 9, 1976) was an American politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1949 Murphy became the first Democrat to serve as the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Murphy also served as the 59th lieutenant governor of Massachusetts from January 1957 to October 6, 1960, when he was appointed by political foe Foster Furcolo to take over the scandal-ridden Metropolitan District Commission.[1] Murphy was the son of Franklin E. Murphy, a telegrapher from Danvers, Massachusetts. Robert's mother, Alice Murphy, worked as a milliner in Boston.[2][3]

  1. ^ Lewis, William (October 7, 1960). "Furcolo Surrenders; Murphy Heads MDC". The Boston Globe.
  2. ^ Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHD8-BPY  : 4 November 2017), Franklin E. Murphy and Alice J. Mccarthy, 25 Nov 1896; citing Marriage, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 819,793
  3. ^ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records".