Terrence Murphy

Who was Terrence Murphy?

Charles Terrence "Terry" Murphy Q.C. was a Canadian lawyer, politician and judge. Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Murphy was the eldest son of Charlie and Monica Murphy of John Street. He attended Holy Angels Catholic School and Sault Collegiate Institute, and entered St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario. However, a year later he transferred to Assumption College at the University of Western Ontario, from which he graduated at the age of 19 with a BA in philosophy. From there he went to Osgoode Hall Law School.

"I had no inclination to work with figures, so that ruled out maths and sciences - - it only left teaching and the law - - I chose the latter."

Among his activities at some point during his time in Toronto, Murphy visited regularly with a friendly University of Toronto English professor for a beer and talk in the evening at the professor's home. Over twenty years later, when Murphy contacted the professor to see if he would be willing to make a presentation to the Liberal Party Caucus, the professor remembered Murphy's visits. But Marshall McLuhan, now internationally famous, said, "Ah, Terrence, times have changed. We can't talk for nothing any more."