Murphy's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." In some formulations, it is extended to "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time."
British mathematician Augustus De Morgan (pictured circa 1860) wrote in 1866 that "whatever can happen will happen".
British stage magician Nevil Maskelyne wrote in 1908 that, during special occasions, "everything that can go wrong will go wrong".
John Stapp riding a rocket sled at Muroc Army Air Field (pictured circa the late 1940s or early 1950s). Murphy's law most likely originated during similar tests in 1948 and 1949.
John Paul Stapp was an American career U.S. Air Force officer, flight surgeon, physician, biophysicist, and pioneer in studying the effects of acceleration forces on humans. He was a colleague and contemporary of Chuck Yeager, and became known as "the fastest man on earth". His work on Project Manhigh pioneered many developments for the US space program.
Stapp in his Air Force uniform
Stapp rides the rocket sled at Edwards Air Force Base
Buckling a three-point seat belt
Stapp's brother (right) accepting on his behalf the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers award in 2012