Edward Murphy was a member of the Canadian Parliament and businessman as well as an antiquarian and book collector. Born in Ireland, Murphy emigrated to Canada with his family as a child. He entered business as a clerk at the age of 14. At 28, he worked as head salesman with the firm of Frothingham and Workman, eventually becoming a partner. Murphy was active in Irish societies and philanthropic and civic associations, including as founder of the Montreal Branch of the Home Rule League and president of the St. Patrick’s National Society and St. Patrick’s Temperance Society. He served as president of the City and District Savings Bank beginning in 1877 and was appointed to the Senate by Sir John A. Macdonald in 1889. He served as a senator until his death in 1895. As an antiquarian and amateur historian, he wrote on the history of Old Montreal and collected many works of early Irish printing and Irish-language manuscripts, and served as vice-president of the Natural Society and the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society.