July 19, 1949: Death of Frank Murphy, the last PH Governor-General

Image: Library of Congress

On July 19, 1949, the final American Governor-General of the Philippines and the first United States High Commissioner to the Philippines, died of cardiovascular disease in Detroit, Michigan. Frank Murphy was a transitional figure in Philippine-American history. During his tenure in the Philippines, there was a transformation from colonial authority to commonwealth government.

Frank Murphy served as the last Governor-General of the Philippines from July 15, 1933, to November 15, 1935. He had a reputation as being a social liberal and was a proponent of social justice for poor and downtrodden Filipinos. He was also a Roman Catholic, which endeared him to Filipinos since Roman Catholicism was the dominant religion in the Philippines.

During American colonialism in the Philippines, the Filipinos gradually and consistently gained control of municipal, provincial and national government. On a national level, Filipinos ultimately had control of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government. The American Governor-General retained veto power. Depending on the Governor-General and his colonial philosophy, the veto was used frequently or sparingly.

A dramatic change to the Philippine government occurred on May 1, 1934. The Tydings-McDuffie Act was approved by the Philippine Legislature. The act established a Philippine Commonwealth and a timetable for independence. The act was also approved by the United States Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A constitutional convention was convened in the Philippines to write a constitution. The commonwealth constitution was modeled on the American constitution.

Manuel Quezon was inaugurated as the president of the Philippine Commonwealth on Friday, November 15, 1935.  Once President Quezon took the oath of office on November 15, 1935, the position of American Governor-General, which was held by Frank Murphy, was abolished. Frank Murphy was then appointed by President Roosevelt as the US High Commissioner. This position was theoretically ceremonial and resembled an ambassadorial job.

To honor Frank Murphy, a military base in Manila was named Camp Murphy. Major Dwight Eisenhower, a future five-star general and US President, took flying lessons at the camp from 1935 to 1939.

After serving as the US High Commissioner to the Philippine Commonwealth from 1935 to 1936, Frank Murphy returned to the United States to continue his stellar career in public service. He was elected to the governorship of Michigan. He was also appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Frank Murphy was only 59 years old when he died on July 19, 1949.

Dennis Edward Flake is the author of three books on Philippine-American history. He is a Public Historian and a former park ranger in interpretation for the National Park Service at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA. He can be contacted at: [email protected]