Richard William Murphy (July 29, 1929 – November 22, 2024) was an American diplomat and career member of the foreign service.

He served as the 14th Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs from 1983 to 1989 during the Ronald Reagan administration.

[1] After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1947, he received BAs from Harvard University in 1951 and from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1953.

He started his career in the United States Foreign Service as Vice Consul in Salisbury, Rhodesia (1955–1958).

[2] Murphy is often credited with brokering the Taif Agreement in 1990, which led to the end of the 15-year Lebanon war.