Dr. John A. Murphy, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery, with office at No. 28 Edward street, in New Haven, his native city, was born February 2. 1872 a son of Hugh and Mary A (Gleeson) Murphy. The father, a native of Ireland, came to America during the early '60s, making his way direct to New Haven, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1913, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. He was superintendent of Judd Brothers' iron foundry of Wallingford for the greater part of his life and in the early days he was also connected with the same line of business with James Reynolds on his own account in New Haven. His wife, a native of this city, was a daughter of Dennis and Margaret (O'Meara) Gleeson, who were of Irish birth and were among the earliest of the Irish citizens of New Haven. Mrs. Murphy was reared, educated and married in New Haven and by her marriage became the mother of seven children, six of whom are living, the Doctor being the oldest. Her death occurred in New Haven, December 9, 1905.
     During his boyhood days Dr. John A. Murphy was a pupil in the public and high schools of New Haven and afterward entered Manhattan College of New York city for the completion of his classical course, there winning the Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation in 1894. He thus laid broadly the foundation upon which to build the superstructure of professional knowledge. Taking up the study of medicine, he entered the New York University as a student in the College of Medicine and was there graduated with the M. D. degree in 1897. He put his theoretical training to practical test by service as an interne in the New York Lying-In Hospital, where he remained for a year, and also spent six months in the Bellevue Hospital of New York. He then returned to New Haven and entered upon private practice, in which he still continues. He has never specialized along any one line but has given his attention to general practice and is a thoroughly well read physician, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought and scientific research and investigation in the field of medical and surgical practice. He is now assistant attending physician at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven. He belongs to the New Haven, the New Haven County and the Connecticut State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association.
     In politics Dr. Murphy maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church and he has membership with the Knights of Columbus. His entire life has been passed in New Haven and many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present, a fact which is indicative of a well spent career.