What is the history of the phrase Jesus Murphy?

Answer 1

He may have invented it, but up in Canada they did not know and think they invented it about 150 years ago. It is a quite popular epithet in the Ottowa valley.

In my survey course in Canadian History I learned that Jesus Murphy was a trader working during the mid-19th century in the Canadian west. As rifles and rum were forbidden the Indians they were in high demand. Murphy would pack the rum and rifles in boxes marked "bibles" and sometimes under actual bibles, which gave rise to his nickname and this curious Canadian epithet.

Just because I know Mike's cousin, Donald Pelacios, also of Mexican decent does not mean a rats ass. I must also admit that my knowledge of prohibition, mid 19th century history, and Irish Jews is lacking in both scope and content. Don't let this prejudice your opinion though. The fact that Mike's cousin, Donald Palacios says "Jesus Murphy", more times per day than my heart beats leads me to believe that Mike and/or Donald had some obvious significance in the development or in all due respect, the propagation of this perennial Mexamericanadian expletive that we have all come to love and enjoy. That's about all I can say.......Jesus Murphy.