Upon the birth of the Alabama Territory, residents of the southern region of the newly formed territory rose to prominence in their quest to carve out a niche for themselves and their country along the American frontier. 

One of those ambitious men was John Murphy of Monroe County. This tireless leader served his state in the legislature, as governor and in the United States Congress.

Although Murphy’s political career focused on Alabama, he was born in North Carolina in 1785. He and his family eventually moved to South Carolina, where he attended South Carolina College (the future University of South Carolina). Interestingly enough, he was a member of the same class there as was John Gayle, another future governor of Alabama.

In 1818, Murphy moved to Monroe County in the Alabama Territory after marrying Sarah Darrington Carter of Clarke County, Ala. Once established, Murphy set himself up as a planter and continued to expand his operation. He quickly gained the confidence of his peers and the respect of the residents of the southern region of the Territory.

Because of his efforts as a respected businessman as well as his educational background, which included the study of law, Murphy was elected as a delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Convention in 1819. After the formation of the state, Murphy was elected to serve in the House of Representatives and then in the Alabama Senate. His popularity and political alliances propelled him into the Alabama governor’s post on two occasions in 1825 and 1827.

Two actions dominated Murphy’s two terms in office. In his first term, the location of the state capital became the focus of the executive and legislative branches of the young state. 

Cahawba in south Alabama was named as the first temporary capital until the Legislature could determine a permanent location. After much political wrangling, Tuscaloosa was chosen to become the first permanent site for the state capital in 1825.

Murphy opposed the move, but lacked the ability to stop the action from taking place, as Cahawba was inconvenient for most lawmakers in the state and suffered from flooding and from disease. It never really had a strong chance to remain as capital based on that appraisal.

Murphy’s second term also involved Tuscaloosa, yet this time it was because of his and others’ desire to create a state university.

As early as 1821, Murphy became involved in founding what would become the University of Alabama. That year he was elected by the state legislature to serve as one of the university’s first trustees. In his second term, the site was chosen for the university in Tuscaloosa and construction began that same year. The university opened in 1831.

By the 1830s, Murphy had moved beyond local and state politics and ventured into the Federal level by running for the U.S. Congress. He was defeated in his first attempt in 1831, but reaped success in 1833. He remained active in politics until he was defeated for a U.S. House seat in 1839. Afterward, Murphy retired to his south Alabama plantation until his death in 1841.