John Murphy, governor of Alabama, was born in Robeson county, N.C., in 1786; son of Nell and —— (Downing) Murphy, and a grandson of Murdoch Murphy, who emigrated from Scotland with his wife and children. He removed to South Carolina with his parents, taught school and was graduated at the University of South Carolina in 1808. He was clerk of the state senate, 1810-17, and a trustee of the University, 1809-18. He settled in Monroe county, Ala., in 1818 and was a member of the convention which framed the state constitution in 1819. He was admitted to the bar, but soon retired from practice and turned his attention to planting. He represented Monroe county in the legislature in 1820, was a state senator in 1822, and was Democratic governor of Alabama, 1825-29. He was defeated as the Union candidate for representative in the 21st and 22d congresses, 1828 and 1830, by Dixon H. Lewis, and was a Union Democratic representative in the 23d congress, 1833-85. He was married first to the daughter of Robert Hails of South Carolina and secondly to Mrs. Carter, a sister of Col. John Darrington. He died in Clark county, Ala., Sept. 21, 1841.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans 1904

Copyright © Christine Walters All Rights Reserved