James Francis Murphy (12 March 189318 January 1949) was a senior Australian public servant, best known for his role as

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

of the

Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bu ...

(later

Department of Commerce and Agriculture The Department of Commerce and Agriculture was an Australian government department that existed between December 1942 and January 1956. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be ...

) in the 1930s and 1940s.

Life and career

Frank Murphy was born in Carlton, Melbourne on 12 March 1893. In 1910, he joined the

Commonwealth Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the G ...

in the

Department of External Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

. In 1933, Murphy was appointed as Assistant Secretary to the Department of Commerce—his promotion at the time was challenged by several other public servants who believed that they should win the role on the grounds that they had served for longer. From December 1934 when he was appointed to the position, until December 1942 when the Department was abolished, Murphy was Secretary of the Department of Commerce. He was then appointed Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Agriculture, between 1942 and 1945. Between 1941 and 1943, Murphy was also Secretary of the Department of Transport. In the role he did not participate in the detailed work of the department as his focus was on the commerce department. Murphy died on 18 January 1949 in Balwyn, Melbourne.

Awards

In May 1937, Murphy was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for his service as Secretary of the Department of Commerce.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Frank 1893 births 1949 deaths Australian public servants Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George People from Carlton, Victoria Public servants from Melbourne