How Did Emily Murphys Contribute To Society

Janeel Asaad
CHC2Da
Mr. Lawrenson
January 12, 2016
Emily Murphy’s Journey Emily Gowan Ferguson also known as Emily Murphy, was born March 14, 1868 in Cookstown, Ontario, was a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author. She was the third child out of six children to Isaac and Emily Ferguson. Her relatives were all in the business and politics industry. Emily was educated at a private school in Ontario, which helped give her a wider and more liberal outlook on life.
In 1916, she became the first female magistrate in Canada and the British Empire. She was best known for her contributions to women’s rights and feminism, which was a big role back then because women were put into question if they were "persons" or not under the Canadian law. What struck her most was when she became aware of the property law that gave women no rights to own a property, and if a husband sold a property and moved out, the wife and children could be left with nothing.
She was also a member of the Equal Franchise League and worked with Nelli McClung to help get the vote for women. Murphy is also known as one of the "The Famous Five" which was a group of Canadian women's rights activists that also included Henrietta

They challenged convention and established an important precedent in Canadian history. In Canada's Senate Chamber, the five women are honoured with a plaque that reads, "To further the cause of womankind these five outstanding pioneer women caused steps to be taken resulting in the recognition by the Privy Council of women as persons eligible for appointment to the Senate of Canada." Murphy, along with the rest of the Famous Five, were featured on the back of the Canadian 50 dollar bills issued in 2004 as part of the “Canadian Journey Series”. In October 2009, the Senate voted to name Murphy and the rest of the Five Canada's first "honorary