Captain William Henry O'Shea (1840–22 April 1905) was an Irish soldier and Member of Parliament.
Born in Dublin, O'Shea was a captain in the 18th Hussars of the British Army.
Around 1880, his wife, Katharine O'Shea, entered into a family relationship with Charles Stewart Parnell, with whom she had three children. O'Shea, who was already separated from his wife, knew of the affair. He only filed for divorce in 1890 after her aunt, from whom he was expecting a large inheritance, died in 1889, but her legacy was inherited by cousins instead.
O'Shea was MP for Clare from 1880 to 1885 and Galway Borough for a short period in 1886. Although supported by Parnell, he was never a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party.
He managed to file for divorce from his wife in 1890 after her 3 year affair with Charles Stuart Parnell.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Patrick Mahon Lord Francis Conyngham |
Member of Parliament for Clare 1880–1885 With: James Patrick Mahon |
Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by Thomas Power O'Connor |
Member of Parliament for Galway Borough 1886–1886 |
Succeeded by John Pinkerton |