Henry Cruse Murphy
Encyclopedia
Henry Cruse Murphy was an American
politician and historian
, born in Brooklyn
, N. Y.
He graduated at Columbia College
in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress
. At the expiration of his term he was elected a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846. In 1847 he was again sent to Congress, and in 1852 was a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for President
. From 1857 to 1861 he was Minister to Holland, and after his return he served for six successive terms in the New York State Senate
.
He is perhaps best known for his researches in the early Colonial history of New York. He translated De Vries' Voyages from Holland to America 1632 to 1644 (1853). During his residence at The Hague
as American Minister he printed for private distribution two monograph
s, Henry Hudson
in Holland: Origin and Objects of the Voyage which Led to the Discovery of the Hudson River
(1859) and Jacob Steendam
, Noch Vaster: A Memoir of the First Poet in New Netherland
s, with his Poems, Descriptive of the Colony (1861). The latter of these was reprinted in his Anthology
of New Netherland
: or, Translations from the Early Dutch Poets of New York, with Memoirs of their Lives, issued by the Bradford Club in 1875.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, N. Y.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
He graduated at Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. At the expiration of his term he was elected a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846. In 1847 he was again sent to Congress, and in 1852 was a candidate for the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. From 1857 to 1861 he was Minister to Holland, and after his return he served for six successive terms in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
.
He is perhaps best known for his researches in the early Colonial history of New York. He translated De Vries' Voyages from Holland to America 1632 to 1644 (1853). During his residence at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
as American Minister he printed for private distribution two monograph
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s, Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer and navigator in the early 17th century. Hudson made two attempts on behalf of English merchants to find a prospective Northeast Passage to Cathay via a route above the Arctic Circle...
in Holland: Origin and Objects of the Voyage which Led to the Discovery of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
(1859) and Jacob Steendam
Jacob Steendam
Jacob Steendam was a Dutch poet and a minister. He colaborated with Pieter Corneliszoon Plockhoy.-Biography:...
, Noch Vaster: A Memoir of the First Poet in New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
s, with his Poems, Descriptive of the Colony (1861). The latter of these was reprinted in his Anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
: or, Translations from the Early Dutch Poets of New York, with Memoirs of their Lives, issued by the Bradford Club in 1875.