| The Honourable Daniel O'Connor JP |
|
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Electoral district of West Sydney |
|
| In office 1877–1891 |
|
| Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales | |
| In office 1891–1892 |
|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Electoral district of Sydney-Phillip |
|
| In office 1900–1904 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 September 1844 Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 24 January 1914 (aged 69) Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Carroll |
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.
Contents |
O'Connor was born in Tipperary, 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.[1][2]
He was married in 1868 to Mary Carroll. They had seven children.[1]
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.[1]
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 Fenian prisoners.[1] 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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
After leaving Parliament O'Connor embarked on a world tour, visiting England and Ireland before heading to the United States. He was in San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake and lost all of his belongings.[1]
O'Connor died at the Liverpool Asylum in 1914. He was buried in the Catholic section of the Waverley Cemetery.[1]