Eugene O'Conor
Encyclopedia
Eugene Joseph O'Conor was a New Zealand
Member of Parliament
for the Buller electorate
, in the South Island
.
in 1835, O'Conor went to Victoria
, Australia
in 1854, and came to New Zealand in the early 1860s. He was a cattle dealer and storekeeper. O'Conor had 'several useful inventions patented' and lectured on his opinion that Francis Bacon
(Baconian theory
) was the author of the Shakespeare
Plays.
in the New Zealand House of Representatives
from 1871 to 1875 and again between 1884 and 1893. He was known as the 'Buller Lion' for his strong advocacy of local interests and was opposed to 'party government'. O'Conor had advanced ideas and promoted democratic measures, including removing the property qualification for the franchise
and having the Legislative Council
directly elected by the people.
. His wife had pre-deceased him in 1890. They had no children, and he left the majority of his estate to destitute children and old people in Westport
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Buller electorate
Buller (New Zealand electorate)
Buller is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1871 to 1972.-History:Early members for Buller were:*Eugene O'Conor from 1871 to 1875 and again from 1884 to 1893 *Joseph Henry from 1876 to 1879...
, in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
.
Private life
Born in IrelandIreland
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...
in 1835, O'Conor went to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1854, and came to New Zealand in the early 1860s. He was a cattle dealer and storekeeper. O'Conor had 'several useful inventions patented' and lectured on his opinion that Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
(Baconian theory
Baconian theory
The Baconian theory of Shakespearean authorship holds that Sir Francis Bacon, lawyer, philosopher, essayist and scientist, wrote the plays conventionally attributed to William Shakespeare, and that the historical Shakespeare was merely a front to shield the identity of Bacon, who could not take...
) was the author of the Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
Plays.
Member of Parliament
Eugene O'Conor represented the Buller electorateBuller (New Zealand electorate)
Buller is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1871 to 1972.-History:Early members for Buller were:*Eugene O'Conor from 1871 to 1875 and again from 1884 to 1893 *Joseph Henry from 1876 to 1879...
in the New Zealand House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
from 1871 to 1875 and again between 1884 and 1893. He was known as the 'Buller Lion' for his strong advocacy of local interests and was opposed to 'party government'. O'Conor had advanced ideas and promoted democratic measures, including removing the property qualification for the franchise
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
and having the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
directly elected by the people.
Death
O'Conor died on 5 July 1912 in NelsonNelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
. His wife had pre-deceased him in 1890. They had no children, and he left the majority of his estate to destitute children and old people in Westport
Westport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
.