Bernard D. Murphy

Bernard "Barney" Daniel Murphy (March 1, 1841 – December 28, 1911) also known as B. D. Murphy, was a Canadian-born American lawyer, businessman and politician. He was a member of the California State Assembly, a California State Senator, and the Mayor of San Jose, California for two terms. The Murphy family were early settlers in California, and founders of early Santa Clara Valley.

Early life, family and education Bernard "Barney" Daniel Murphy was born on March 1, 1841, in Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada). His father Martin Murphy Jr. was born in Wexford, Ireland. His older brother Patrick W. Murphy was also a politician who served in the same legislative house concurrently. When Bernard was 3 years old the Murphy family crossed the Sierra Nevada into California.

They were early settlers in California, and founders of early Santa Clara Valley. In 1846, his grandfather purchased the Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche. At age 9, his family homestead and the Martin Murphy House was founded in what is present-day Sunnyvale, California, near Mountain View, California.

Murphy was active within the Democratic Party. In 1869, he was elected to the California State Assembly, representing Santa Clara County. He was instrumental in the establishment of the San Jose Normal School (later known as San Jose State University). He was one of the people instrumental in the establishment of the Lick Observatory, and the road built to the site.

He was one of the founders of the San Luis Obispo Water Company.

Death Murphy died of heart failure on December 28, 1911, at the Hotel Imperial in San Francisco, California. He was buried at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.