Emily Murphy

Date of Birth: March 14, 1868

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: October 27, 1933

Biography

Emily Murphy was a pioneering Canadian women’s rights activist and jurist, best known for her role in the “Persons Case,” which significantly advanced the status of women in Canada. Born on March 14, 1868, in Cookstown, Ontario, Murphy was the daughter of Isaac Ferguson, a businessman, and Emily Ferguson. She married Arthur Murphy, an Anglican minister, and had four daughters. Murphy’s activism was ignited by her experiences and observations of the legal injustices faced by women. In 1916, she became the first female magistrate in the British Empire when she was appointed to the Edmonton Juvenile Court. Her most significant contribution came in 1927 when she and four other women, known as the Famous Five, petitioned the Supreme Court of Canada to clarify whether the word “persons” in the British North America Act included women. In 1929, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain ruled in their favor, allowing women to be appointed to the Senate. Throughout her life, Murphy was a prolific writer and an advocate for social reform, particularly in the areas of women’s rights, immigration, and drug policy. She passed away on October 27, 1933, in Edmonton, Alberta.

5 Interesting Facts about Emily Murphy

1. Emily Murphy wrote under the pseudonym “Janey Canuck.”

2. She was the first woman in the British Empire to serve as a police magistrate.

3. Murphy was one of the “Famous Five,” a group of women who fought for women’s legal recognition as “persons” in Canada.

4. She was a strong advocate for the legalization of medical marijuana.

5. Murphy’s book, “The Black Candle,” highlighted her controversial views on drug policy, particularly concerning opium and Chinese immigrants.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Emily Murphy

1. “The world loves a peaceful man, but it gives way to a strenuous kicker.”

2. “It is only through the home that a people can become really good and truly great.”

3. “The future of the world, dependent as it is upon the development of character, rests with woman.”

4. “To be good, we must do good; and we cannot do good unless we have a genuine desire to effect it.”

5. “The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Emily Murphy’s activism was not financially motivated, and there are no records of her achieving significant wealth. Her contributions were primarily social and legal.