murphy was born at blackrock, cork, and was originally a bricklayer. he made his way to dublin to study, and his name appeared in a list of the pupils of the drawing school of the dublin society about 1775, as working in miniature, chalk, and crayons. later he practised in dublin. in 1786 he was one of seven architects who were consulted on additions to the house of commons, and he and another carried out the execution of james gandon's design for the work.