Walter Francis Murphy, Jr. (November 21, 1929 – April 20, 2010) was an American political scientist and writer.
Walter Murphy | |
|---|---|
| Born | Walter Francis Murphy, Jr. November 21, 1929 |
| Died | April 20, 2010 (aged 80) Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Academic background | |
| Education | University of Notre Dame (BA) University of Chicago (PhD) |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Political science |
| Institutions | United States Naval Academy Princeton University |
| Notable students | Samuel Alito |
Early life and education
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Murphy received a Distinguished Service Cross and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, eventually retiring with the rank of colonel. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1950 and a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1957.
Career
Murphy taught government at the United States Naval Academy before returning to graduate school. After earning his PhD, he spent a year as a fellow at the Brookings Institution. He held the position of McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, a chair whose first occupant was Woodrow Wilson. As a professor, he was undergraduate thesis advisor for Samuel Alito. His professional writing, consisting mostly of non-fiction works on political science, included Constitutional Democracy: Creating and Maintaining a Just Political Order; he has also written three popular novels, including The Vicar of Christ.[1]
Personal life
Murphy died of cancer at age 80. Murphy's name was on the "Selectee List".[2][3]
References
Sources
- The Charleston Post and Courier
- The New York Times