Thomas Murphy (Collector)

He had joined the Republican Party and made his fortune selling equipment to the Union Army during the American Civil War.

[4] Murphy made his fortune selling equipment to the Union Army during the American Civil War, and soon thereafter became involved with the Republican political machine run by Roscoe Conkling.

[1] In 1870, Conkling asked President Ulysses S. Grant to appoint Murphy to the office of Collector.

[2] Murphy antagonized other New York Republican factions by firing their members from Custom House jobs and replacing them with men loyal to Conkling.

After his removal, Murphy ran for Congress from New York's 9th congressional district, but was defeated.

Thomas Murphy, Collector of the Port of New York and New York State Senator.