Daniel O'Connor (politician)

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.

Early life and education

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]

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.^[1]

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 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]

O'Connor 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 December 1885 O'Connor was appointed Postmaster-General in John Robertson's Cabinet, a role he served in for just over two months, until February 1886.^[3] He was again appointed Postmaster-General in March 1889 by Henry Parkes,^[3] serving for over two and a half years before being appointed Minister of Justice. He later briefly served as Solicitor General.^[1][2]

In June 1891,^[3] after serving eight terms and almost 14 years in the Legislative Assembly he lost his seat of West Sydney 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 O'Connor 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]

World trip

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]

Death

O'Connor died at the Liverpool, New South Wales, Asylum in 1914. He was buried in the Catholic section of the Waverley Cemetery.^[1]

References