Daniel O'Connor (politician)
Encyclopedia
The Honourable Daniel O'Connor JP
(13 September 1844 — 24 January 1914) was an Irish
-born politician and businessman active in colonial-era New South Wales
.
, Ireland
to Patrick and Margaret O'Connor. In 1854 he moved with his family to Sydney
, sailing on the Lord Hungerford. The younger O'Connor joined his father working in a butcher's shop after only a brief education. Eventually as a teenager he studied literature at the Sydney School of Arts and later at the City College.
He was married in 1868 to Mary Carroll. They had seven children.
prisoners.
In 1876 he was elected to the Phillip Ward of the Sydney City Council. Apart from a brief period in 1879, he represented the ward until 1885.
He was elected to the West Sydney
electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
in 1877. As a member of Parliament he was an opponent of Chinese immigration and payment of Members of Parliament.
In 1885 he was appointed Postmaster General in John Robertson's Cabinet, a role he served in for just over two months. He was again appointed Postmaster General in 1889 by Henry Parkes
, serving for over two and a half years before being appointed Minister of Justice. He later briefly served as Solicitor General.
In 1891, after serving eight terms and almost 14 years in the Legislative Assembly he was lost his seat in an election. He was subsequently appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council.
While still in Parliament O'Connor went into business with sometime-politician John Hurley. In 1892 the business collapsed, forcing O'Connor, and Hurley, to declare bankruptcy. As a bankrupt he had to give up his seat in the Legislative Council. He was reappointed in 1895 serving until 1898 when he attempted to regain a seat in the Legislative Assembly.
In 1900 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly seat of Sydney-Phillip on a Protectionist ticket. He served the electorate until 1904 when he finally withdrew from public life.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(13 September 1844 — 24 January 1914) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born politician and businessman active in colonial-era New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Early life and education
O'Connor was born in TipperaryTipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to Patrick and Margaret O'Connor. In 1854 he moved with his family to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, sailing on the Lord Hungerford. The younger O'Connor joined his father working in a butcher's shop after only a brief education. Eventually as a teenager he studied literature at the Sydney School of Arts and later at the City College.
He was married in 1868 to Mary Carroll. They had seven children.
Business
By the early 1870s O'Connor had his own butchering business and had accumulated 14 houses and 7000 pounds. By 1872 he had lost his money and houses after speculating on goldmining shares. By the time the decade was out he had regained his fortune.Public life
O'Connor was active in Sydney public life in the 1870s, being a member of the Catholic Association, chair of the Catholic Truth Society and vocal in his support of pardoned FenianFenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
prisoners.
In 1876 he was elected to the Phillip Ward of the Sydney City Council. Apart from a brief period in 1879, he represented the ward until 1885.
He was elected to the West Sydney
Electoral district of West Sydney
West Sydney was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales created in 1859 from part of the electoral district of Sydney, covering the western part of the current Sydney central business district, Ultimo and Pyrmont, bordered by George Street,...
electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
in 1877. As a member of Parliament he was an opponent of Chinese immigration and payment of Members of Parliament.
In 1885 he was appointed Postmaster General in John Robertson's Cabinet, a role he served in for just over two months. He was again appointed Postmaster General in 1889 by Henry Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
, serving for over two and a half years before being appointed Minister of Justice. He later briefly served as Solicitor General.
In 1891, after serving eight terms and almost 14 years in the Legislative Assembly he was lost his seat in an election. He was subsequently appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council.
While still in Parliament O'Connor went into business with sometime-politician John Hurley. In 1892 the business collapsed, forcing O'Connor, and Hurley, to declare bankruptcy. As a bankrupt he had to give up his seat in the Legislative Council. He was reappointed in 1895 serving until 1898 when he attempted to regain a seat in the Legislative Assembly.
In 1900 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly seat of Sydney-Phillip on a Protectionist ticket. He served the electorate until 1904 when he finally withdrew from public life.