Emily Murphy

Emily Murphy, born on March fourteenth, eighteen sixty-eight, was a pioneering Canadian judge, human rights defender, writer, and women's rights activist. In nineteen sixteen, she made history by becoming the first female magistrate in Canada and the fifth in the British Empire, following a trail blazed by notable women in Australia. Her legacy is deeply intertwined with the advancement of Canadian feminism, particularly regarding the legal status of women as 'qualified persons' eligible to serve in the Senate.

As a prominent member of 'The Famous Five,' a group of influential women's rights activists that included Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby, Murphy played a crucial role in the landmark 'Persons Case' of nineteen twenty-seven. This case challenged the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling that women were not considered 'qualified persons' under Canadian law. The group’s relentless pursuit of justice ultimately led to a victory when the Judicial Committee of the British Privy Council overturned the initial decision.

Despite her significant contributions to women's rights, Murphy's later work has faced criticism, particularly regarding her involvement in the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta. Additionally, her controversial views on immigration and race, as expressed in her book 'The Black Candle,' have sparked debate. In it, she suggested that certain immigrant groups posed a threat to the white race, a perspective that has drawn scrutiny and condemnation.