James E. Murray
James Edward Murray (May 3, 1876 – March 23, 1961) was an American politician and United States Senator from Montana, and a liberal leader of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States Senate from 1934 until 1961.
James E. Murray
Background[edit]
Born on a farm near St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, Murray graduated from St. Jerome's College in Berlin, Ontario, in 1897. That same year his father died and he went to live with a wealthy uncle in Butte, Montana, James Andrew Murray, who owned valuable copper mines. His uncle sent him to New York to study law. He graduated from the law department of New York University in 1900, the same year he became an American citizen. He was admitted to the bar in 1901, and commenced practice in Butte, where he also engaged in banking and the management of his uncle's properties.[1]
He practiced law in Butte and in 1906 was elected to one term as Silver Bow County attorney. Murray feuded with local officials and judges, and returned to private practice. Active in the Democratic Party, Murray worked closely with labor unions to build his political base. In 1921, he and his mother inherited over $10 million from his late uncle. He dabbled in Irish politics, and reentered Montana politics when the Great Depression soured the Montana economy in the 1930s.[2][3]
Until 1987, his family owned The Murray Hotel in Livingston, Montana's downtown historic district.[4]
Chairmanships[edit]
Murray served as chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Labor-Management Relations, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, and also served on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Health[edit]
In his later years, Murray was reported to have suffered from senility and his son, running his office for him in the 1950s, told him how to vote.[9] He did not seek re-election in 1960.
Murray died in Butte[10] less than three months after leaving office and was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery.[11]