John M. C. Murphy (1851-1936) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and died in Sonoma, California. He was a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, completing the Primary class (1883), Normal class (1886), and Obstetrical course (1887). For six years after completing the Primary class, Murphy ran a busy healing practice in Boston and was also an active member of the Christian Scientist Association and the Church of Christ (Scientist). In the spring of 1888, Murphy and a group of students caused a split within the Association over its response to the Abby Corner court case. In April 1889, he was dismissed from the Church, and in May he withdrew from the Christian Scientist Association. After leaving the Christian Science movement, Murphy trained as a doctor, maintaining a practice in Malden, Massachusetts, as well as working as a United States examining surgeon for pensions. In 1907, during the "Next Friends" lawsuit, Murphy wrote to Eddy's secretary, Calvin Frye, and to Committee on Publication, Alfred Farlow, offering to sell them letters written to him by Eddy. The offer wasn't accepted. At the request of Frederick W. Peabody, without being subpoenaed, Murphy gave a deposition as part of the "Next Friends" suit.

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