Arthur Murphy (27 December 1727 – 18 June 1805), also known by the pseudonym Charles Ranger, was an Irish writer and barrister.

He studied at the Jesuit-run College of Saint-Omer, France, and was a gifted student of the Latin and Greek classics.

Murphy is thought to have coined the legal term "wilful misconstruction" whilst representing the Donaldson v. Becket appeal to the House of Lords in 1774 against the perpetual possession of copyright.

Arthur Murphy was devoted to Ann Elliot and he missed her after her early death.

An example of Murphy's theatrical writings is The Citizen, a farce, first produced at Drury Lane in 1761.

Young Philpot has lost a fortune, but borrows money from his father and embarks on an insurance fraud involving shipwrecked goods.

In the second act, Philpot senior is visiting Corinna, a lady of loose virtue, but hides under the table when his son calls upon her.