James E. Murray (May 3, 1876 - March 23, 1961) was a United States Senator from Montana, and a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States Senate from 1934 until 1961. Born on a farm near St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, Murray graduated from St. Jerome's College, Berlin, Canada, in 1897. He came to the United States in 1897, settled in Butte, Montana, and was naturalized in 1900. He graduated from the law department of New York University in 1900, was admitted to the bar in 1901, and commenced practice in Butte, where he also engaged in banking.
Murray was county attorney of Silver Bow County, Montana, 1906-1908, and became chairman of the State advisory board of the Public Works Administration from 1933 to 1934. He was elected on November 6, 1934 as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas J. Walsh. He was reelected several times and served from November 7, 1934 to January 3, 1961. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1960.
Murray served as chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Labor-Management Relations, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, and also served on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Murray died in Butte and was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Preceded by: John E. Erickson United States Senator from Montana 1934-1961 Succeeded by: Lee Metcalf Preceded by: Guy Cordon Chairperson of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs 1955-1961 Succeeded by: Clinton P. Anderson Preceded by: Elbert D. Thomas Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare 1951-1953 Succeeded by: H. Alexander Smith
