The 25-year-old from Dunblane put four previous major tournament near misses and 76 years of hurt for British male tennis players behind him when he recorded an epic 7-6 (12-10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6 win over Novak Djokovic at the Arthur Ashe arena.
It was a famous victory for the Scot, who may well be back in Glasgow this Friday as part of the Olympic parade, but next on his list is the honour of being named World No.1.
The Olympic Champion, who moves to No.3 in the world in the wake of this year's tournament, will have his work cut out to overhaul both Djokovic and Roger Federer by the New Year, but both will be aware that he is breathing down their necks.
"For all players, once you get near to the top of the game, one of the goals is to try and get to the world No.1 spot," said Murray, who has previously only been as high as No.2 in the world.
"I can't say this year it's necessarily possible for me to do it because I didn't have a particularly good clay court season and I didn't do well in the Masters Series in Cincinnati and Montreal and also in Indian Wells.
"I had too many losses early in those tournaments," he added. "But that is the next step. To do that, you need to be consistent throughout the whole year.
"That's something Novak and Roger and Rafa have done incredibly well the last few years. But it's something I'd love to do, to get to No.1. I'm definitely going to try."
Murray said he felt sure the ghost of Fred Perry was smiling down on him after he became the first British man to win a Grand Slam tennis title since the man whose clothing range he used to wear triumphed more than three quarters of a century ago.
Murray – who also became the first Scottish-born winner of a major since Harold Mahony won Wimbledon in 1897 – was watched by Scottish luminaries Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Sean Connery as he emulated Perry's 1936 win here in a record-equalling four hours 54 minutes on the Arthur Ashe arena.
"I never got the chance to meet him [Perry]," said Murray, who ended a wait of 287 major tournaments without a British male singles winner.
"But it would have been nice to have spoken to someone from Britain that had won major tournaments before.
"That definitely would have helped me if I would have got the chance. I used to wear his clothing line when I was growing up and I'm sure he's smiling from up there that someone has finally managed to do it from Britain."
Murray said he had felt the hand of history on his shoulder when he served for the match at 5-2 in the final set, shortly after Djokovic had called the trainer.
"When you're on the court, you don't necessarily feel it, but I knew when I was serving for the match, there's a sense of how big a moment that is in British tennis history really," the Scot said.
"So that obviously adds to it. I know more than most about how British players do, I have been asked about it many times when I got close to winning Grand Slams before.
"Even after I won the Olympics I still got asked 'when are you going to win a Grand Slam?' So, yeah, it's great to have finally done it. I'm obviously proud that I managed to to achieve it and I don't have to get asked that stupid question again."
Murray admitted to some doubts before going on court, and crying afterwards. But relief was the dominant emotion.
"Obviously you're feeling a lot of things," said the Scot. "You know, I was obviously very emotional. I cried a little bit on the court but you're not sad; you're incredibly happy.
"You're in a little bit of disbelief because when I have been in that position many times before and not won so you think 'is it ever going to happen? Then when it finally does you're obviously very, very excited. But I am mainly relieved to have got over the last hurdle."
Afterwards Djokovic paid tribute to the new champion. Although Murray had the benefit of an extra day's rest, he had spent five more hours on court than the Serb on his run through the tournament. "I had a great opponent," the Serb said.
"He deserved to win this Grand Slam more than anybody because over the years he has been a top player. He's been so close and lost four finals. Now he has won it so I would like to congratulate him. There is no doubt that he deserves to win the Grand Slam."
