Edward Murphy Jr. (December 15, 1836August 3, 1911) was a businessman and politician from Troy, New York. A Democrat, he served as mayor of Troy, New York (1875–1883), chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee (1888–1894), and a United States senator from New York (1893–1899). A native of Troy, Murphy was educated in Troy and attended the Collège de Montréal with the intention of becoming a priest. Deciding to pursue a business career instead, Murphy attended St. John's College (now Fordham University), from which he graduated in 1857. He then joined his father's brewing business, which he managed in partnership with his father. After his father's retirement, Murphy operated the brewery until merging with another local brewer to form a partnership known as Murphy & Kennedy. Murphy's other business interests included serving as president of the Troy Gas Company. Murphy was also a shareholder in the Troy City Railway and the city's electric company. Long active in politics as a Democrat, Murphy was a delegate to many of the party's local, county, state, and national conventions. He was active in Troy's city government, and served as an alderman from 1864 to 1866, fire commissioner from 1874 to 1875, and mayor from 1875 to 1883. From 1888 to 1894 he was chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee. In 1893, Democrats controlled the New York State Legislature, and were able to elect a Democrat to the U.S. Senate as the successor to Frank Hiscock. Murphy was selected as the Democratic nominee, and won the legislative election. Murphy served one term, March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1899. Republicans controlled the legislature in 1899, and Murphy was succeeded in the Senate by Republican Thomas C. Platt. After leaving the Senate, Murphy resumed his former business pursuits in Troy, attended several national Democratic conventions as a delegate, and served as chairman of the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee. He died at his summer home in Elberon, New Jersey on August 3, 1911. Murphy was buried at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Troy. Birth and early years Edward Murphy was born in Troy, New York on December 15, 1836, the son of Edward and Mary Murphy. He attended the local schools, and enrolled at the Collège de Montréal in anticipation of a career in the priesthood. He later decided on a secular career, and attended St. John's College (now Fordham University), from which