Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy was a strong advocate for Canadian women and children who led the Famous Five in the Persons Case, establishing the status of women as persons.
Civil Rights Figure
March 14, 1868
October 27, 1933
65
Emily Murphy (1868-1933) was a prominent Canadian women’s rights activist and writer. She is most well-known for her involvement with the “Famous Five,” a group that campaigned for the acknowledgment of women as persons in Canada’s constitution. Murphy played a crucial role in founding the Victorian Order of Nurses and the National Council of Women of Canada. Additionally, she authored the book “The Black Candle,” which highlighted the perils of drug abuse. In 1929, Murphy and the Famous Five successfully contested the British North America Act, resulting in the legal recognition of women as persons. As a trailblazer in the Canadian women’s rights movement, Murphy’s accomplishments continue to motivate activists today. A notable aspect of Emily Murphy’s legacy is her leadership in the Persons Case, where she guided the Famous Five in securing the status of women as persons under the British North America (BNA) Act.