Emily Gowan Ferguson was born on March 14, 1868, in Cookstown, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada. Raised in a family that valued education and public service, she grew up to become one of the most influential figures in Canadian history. In 1887, she married Arthur Murphy, an Anglican minister, and the couple eventually settled in Edmonton, Alberta, where she would launch her remarkable career as an author, activist, and legal pioneer. Before entering public life, she wrote under the pen name "Janey Canuck," publishing popular books and articles that established her reputation as a sharp observer of Canadian society.

Murphy's activism took a historic turn in June 1916, when she became the first female magistrate in the British Empire, appointed to the police court in Edmonton. Her appointment was not without controversy, as local lawyers challenged her authority on the grounds that women were not legally "persons" under Canadian law. This challenge sparked her determination to confront the broader legal inequality facing women, setting the stage for her most celebrated achievement. She is best remembered as a member of "The Famous Five," also known as "The Valiant Five," alongside fellow activists Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby.

In 1927, Murphy and her fellow activists launched the famous "Persons Case," arguing that women should be considered "qualified persons" eligible to sit in the Canadian Senate. The Supreme Court of Canada initially ruled against them in 1928, but the women appealed to the Judicial Committee of the British Privy Council, then Canada's court of last resort. In 1929, they won their case, a landmark decision that opened the doors of the Senate to women and reshaped the legal definition of personhood in Canada. This victory remains one of the most significant milestones in the history of women's rights in the Commonwealth.

Murphy was also a prolific author, and her writings reflected both her activism and the prejudices of her era. Her book "The Black Candle" advanced controversial claims about immigrants, particularly Chinese Canadians, and drug use, alleging a conspiracy to corrupt the white race. She was also a vocal supporter of the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta, a law that led to the forced sterilization of thousands of individuals, a legacy that has drawn significant criticism from modern historians. These aspects of her work stand in stark contrast to her achievements in advancing women's legal rights.

Emily Murphy died on October 27, 1933, in Edmonton, Alberta, leaving behind a complex legacy. She is celebrated as a pioneering feminist and legal reformer whose efforts permanently changed Canadian law, while her views on immigration and eugenics remain a subject of historical scrutiny. Her contributions to the "Persons Case" continue to be honored as a turning point in the struggle for gender equality in Canada.