Charles Murphy was born in New York City in 1858. The owner of several saloons in the city, he took a keen interest in politics and was a member of the Democratic Party.

Murphy's prominence in the Tammany Society enabled him to become New York's dock commissioner. When Richard Croker was defeated by Seith Low in 1901, Murphy became the leader of the Tammany political machine. Over the next few years Murphy brought about the election of three New York City mayors, George B. McCellan, William Jay Gaynor and John F. Hylan and helped establish the careers of Alfred E. Smith and Robert F. Wagner. Murphy died in 1924.