During the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893, Captain Murphy commanded the Marine Detachment that was tasked with guarding exhibits loaned by the U.S. Department of State and other foreign governments for display at the Naval Exhibit. During the Spanish-American war he was the Fleet Marine Officer under Commodore Winfield S. Schley. He retired as a Colonel of Marines in 1910, but returned to active duty during World War I.