William Francis Murray (September 7, 1881 – September 21, 1918) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

and the Postmaster of Boston. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Murray attended the public schools and the Boston Latin School. He was graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

in 1904 and from Harvard Law School in 1906. Practiced law in Boston. He served during the Spanish–American War as a corporal in the United States Volunteer Signal Corps. He served as member of Boston Common Council in 1904 and 1905. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1907 and 1908. He served as member of the Governor's council in 1910.

Election to Congress

Murray was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Sixty-second and Sixty-third Congresses. He served as a Member of Congress from March 4, 1911, until September 28, 1914, when he resigned, having been appointed postmaster of Boston.

Postmaster of Boston

On June 19, 1914, President Wilson nominated Murray for the position of Postmaster of Boston., the Senate Confirmed the nomination on July 16, 1914. Murray served as postmaster from October 1, 1914, until his death on September 21, 1918.

Death

In the Autumn of 1918 Murray contracted the

Spanish flu The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, commonly known by the misnomer Spanish flu or as the Great Influenza epidemic, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. The earliest documented case was ...

and died from pneumonia at Boston City Hospital at 11:40 on the night of September 21, 1918.

Burial

Murray was interred in Holyhood Cemetery, the Chestnut Hill section of Brookline, Massachusetts.

References

Bibliography

* ''Who's who in State Politics, 1912'' Practical Politics (1912) p. 24. {{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, William Francis 1881 births 1918 deaths Harvard College alumni Harvard Law School alumni Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives United States Army non-commissioned officers Deaths from Spanish flu Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts 20th-century American politicians 19th-century American politicians Boston Latin School alumni Deaths from pneumonia in Massachusetts Burials at Holyhood Cemetery (Brookline) Politicians from Boston American military personnel of the Spanish–American War