John Murphy | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev John Murphy SJ Title: Rev First Name: John Middle Names: R. Preferred Name: Surname: Murphy Order: SJ Date of Birth: 18-Sep-1852 Place of Birth: Clonmel, Co Tipperary Country of Birth: Ireland Date of Ordination: 29-Jul-1887 Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 21-Aug-1898 Place of Death: Sydney NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 23-Aug-1898 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300618922 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes See https://jesuitarchives.ie/fr-john-r-murphy-sj --- Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Murphy, John Teacher and administrator; born Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland, 18 September 1852; died Sydney, 21 August 1898, aged 45. John Murphy, twin brother of James, Irish province, was educated by the Marist Fathers, Dublin, and entered the Catholic University at the age of 14, afterwards studying 'letters' at Roehampton, London, and matriculating with distinction at the University of London. He entered the Society at Milltown Park, Dublin, 28 September 1869, taught French and arithmetic at Clongowes, 1873-79, studied philosophy at Stonyhurst, 1879-82, and theology at Oña, Spain, 1885-89. His regency, 1882-85, was at Tullamore College, teaching humanities to the senior classes. He was prefect of studies, 1884-5. He returned to this college after ordination until 1890, being superior of the juniors and prefect of studies and teaching rhetoric. He arrived in Australia in 1890 and completed tertianship at Loyola College, Greenwich, that year. Then he was sent to St Ignatius' College, Riverview, in 1891, where he was prefect of studies until his death in 1898 from tuberculosis. Murphy was considered a heroic worker, an outstanding administrator, gifted in learning, who shunned publicity and praise, and a man of true charity. He was a very good teacher of senior Latin and history, substituting for absent teachers as required. He knew the progress of each boy in the school, and showed great interest in them. He introduced 'test' examinations for the public exam students, and also weekly examinations. He also introduced class repetitions, and class championships (emulation). This allowed the boys of a lower class to compete against boys of an upper class. Sometimes a boy would be asked to submit to questioning from members of the community on Sundays. He also continued Charles O'Connell's approach of commenting on the public examination system in NSW. His former students described him as a 'truly great man, strict, but scrupulously fair'. He was experienced as hard working, kind and genial, and respected for his professional approach to learning. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

John

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Murphy

Order:

Date of Birth:

18-Sep-1852

Place of Birth:

Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

29-Jul-1887

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

21-Aug-1898

Place of Death:

Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

23-Aug-1898

Place of Burial:

Gore Hill NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300618922

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

See https://jesuitarchives.ie/fr-john-r-murphy-sj

---

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Murphy, John

Teacher and administrator; born Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland, 18 September 1852; died Sydney, 21 August 1898, aged 45.

John Murphy, twin brother of James, Irish province, was educated by the Marist Fathers, Dublin, and entered the Catholic University at the age of 14, afterwards studying 'letters' at Roehampton, London, and matriculating with distinction at the University of London.

He entered the Society at Milltown Park, Dublin, 28 September 1869, taught French and arithmetic at Clongowes, 1873-79, studied philosophy at Stonyhurst, 1879-82, and theology at Oña, Spain, 1885-89. His regency, 1882-85, was at Tullamore College, teaching humanities to the senior classes. He was prefect of studies, 1884-5. He returned to this college after ordination until 1890, being superior of the juniors and prefect of studies and teaching rhetoric.

He arrived in Australia in 1890 and completed tertianship at Loyola College, Greenwich, that year. Then he was sent to St Ignatius' College, Riverview, in 1891, where he was prefect of studies until his death in 1898 from tuberculosis.

Murphy was considered a heroic worker, an outstanding administrator, gifted in learning, who shunned publicity and praise, and a man of true charity. He was a very good teacher of senior Latin and history, substituting for absent teachers as required. He knew the progress of each boy in the school, and showed great interest in them.

He introduced 'test' examinations for the public exam students, and also weekly examinations. He also introduced class repetitions, and class championships (emulation). This allowed the boys of a lower class to compete against boys of an upper class. Sometimes a boy would be asked to submit to questioning from members of the community on Sundays. He also continued Charles O'Connell's approach of commenting on the public examination system in NSW. His former students described him as a 'truly great man, strict, but scrupulously fair'. He was experienced as hard working, kind and genial, and respected for his professional approach to learning.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev John Murphy SJ

Biographical Notes