William Francis Murray
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Francis Murray (September 7, 1881 – September 21, 1918) was a U.S. representative from Massachusetts and the Postmaster of Boston.
10th district (1913–14)
William Francis Murray | |
|---|---|
William Francis Murray circa 1912[1] | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – September 28, 1914 | |
| Preceded by | John A. Keliher |
| Succeeded by | Peter Francis Tague |
| Constituency | 9th district (1911–13) 10th district (1913–14) |
| Massachusetts Executive Council | |
| In office 1910–1911 | |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1907–1908 | |
| City of Boston Common Council | |
| In office 1904–1904 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 7, 1881 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 21, 1918 (aged 37) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Harvard College Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1898 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | United States Volunteer Signal Corps |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Murray attended the public schools and the Boston Latin School. He graduated from Harvard University in 1904 and Harvard Law School in 1906. He practiced law in Boston. He served as a United States Volunteer Signal Corps corporal during the Spanish-American War. He served as a member of the Boston Common Council in 1904 and 1905. He served as a member of the State House of Representatives in 1907 and 1908. He served as a member of the Governor's council in 1910
Election to Congress
Murray challenged incumbent and fellow Democrat John A. Keliher in 1910. He defeated Keliher in both the primary and general. At age 29, Murray was the youngest member of the Sixty-second Congress. He was reelected to the Sixty-third Congress where he was a strong backer of Woodrow Wilson. He served as a member of Congress from March 4, 1911, until September 28, 1914, when he resigned, having been appointed postmaster of Boston [2].
Postmaster of Boston
Death
In the Autumn of 1918, Murray contracted the Spanish flu[5] and died from pneumonia at Boston City Hospital at 11:40 on the night of September 21, 1918.[6]
Burial
Murray was interred in Holyhood Cemetery, the Chestnut Hill section of Brookline, Massachusetts.[7]
