Grayson M. P. Murphy

Grayson M. P. Murphy
Grayson Mallet-Prevost Murphy in 1918
BornDecember 19, 1878
DiedOctober 18, 1937 (aged 59)
Alma materHaverford College
United States Military Academy
OccupationBusinessman

Grayson Mallet-Prevost Murphy Sr. (December 19, 1878 – October 18, 1937) was an American banker and company director.

Early life

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Murphy was born on December 19, 1878, in Philadelphia and attended Haverford College. He served as a volunteer in the Spanish–American War, and later attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1903. He was a lieutenant in the Philippine–American War, in charge of operations, 42nd Division. He was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, as authorized by Congress on July 9, 1918.[1]

Business career

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Murphy was a senior vice president of Guaranty Trust Company. He was also Founder and Head of G.M.-P. Murphy & Co. He served on the boards of directors of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, Guaranty Trust Company, New York Trust Company, Bethlehem Steel, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, New York Railways, Fifth Avenue Coach Company, and Chicago Motor Coach Company.

Civic activities

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He was the first European Commissioner of the American Red Cross during World War I.[2] Murphy was also implicated in the 1933 Business Plot exposed by General Smedley Butler to overthrow President Franklin Roosevelt in a military coup.[3]

Murphy was the chief commissioner of the American Red Cross in Europe, and treasurer of the American Liberty League.

Death

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Murphy died on October 18, 1937, in Manhattan, New York City.[4] His funeral was held at St. James' Episcopal Church at Seventy-first Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Grayson M. P. Murphy: Army Distinguished Service Medal". Military Times. July 10, 1918.
  2. ^ "Major Grayson M.-P. Murphy". The Red Cross Bulletin. January 21, 1918. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  3. ^ Spivak, John Louis (1967). A Man in his Time. NYC: Horizon Press. p. 299.
  4. ^ "Died: Grayson M.P. Murphy". Time magazine. November 1, 1937. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  5. ^ "Rites for Colonel Murphy. Funeral Services Will Be Held Here Today for Financier". New York Times. October 20, 1937. Retrieved 2016-01-22.

Further reading

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  • Murphy, Grayson M.-P. (1918). "What the American Red Cross has been doing the past year". (address given on January 23, 1918 at a meeting in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York): printed for distribution by the New England Division, American Red Cross: 15 pages. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)