Daniel O'Connor (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daniel O'Connor
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| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Electoral district of West Sydney |
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| In office 1877–1891 |
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| Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales | |
| In office 1891–1892 |
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| In office 1895–1898 |
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| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Electoral district of Sydney-Phillip |
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| In office 1900–1904 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 September 1844 County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 24 January 1914 (aged 69) Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Mary Carroll |
Daniel O'Connor was an important politician and businessman in New South Wales, Australia. He was born in Ireland in 1844 and passed away in 1914. He played a big part in public life during Australia's colonial times.
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Early Life and Learning
Daniel O'Connor was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1844. When he was about 10 years old, in 1854, his family moved to Sydney, Australia. They sailed on a ship called the Lord Hungerford.
When he arrived in Sydney, Daniel quickly started working with his father in a butcher's shop. He didn't have much schooling at first. However, as a teenager, he loved to learn. He studied literature at the Sydney School of Arts and later at the City College.
In 1868, Daniel O'Connor married Mary Carroll. They had seven children together.
Daniel O'Connor's Businesses
By the early 1870s, Daniel O'Connor had become a successful butcher. He had earned a lot of money and owned many houses. But he took a big risk by investing in gold mining shares. This gamble didn't pay off, and he lost all his money and houses by 1872.
However, Daniel O'Connor was very determined. He worked hard and managed to get his fortune back by the end of the 1870s. This shows he was a very clever and resilient businessman.
Life in Politics
Daniel O'Connor was very involved in public life in Sydney during the 1870s. He was a member of the Catholic Association and led the Catholic Truth Society. He also spoke out in support of Fenian prisoners who had been pardoned. Fenians were Irish nationalists who wanted Ireland to be independent.
Serving on the Sydney City Council
In 1876, Daniel O'Connor was elected to the Sydney City Council. He represented the Phillip Ward, which is a local area in Sydney. He served on the council until 1885, except for a short break in 1879.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1877, O'Connor was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. This is like being a member of parliament today. He represented the West Sydney area.
As a Member of Parliament, he had strong opinions. He was against Chinese immigration and also against paying Members of Parliament.
Postmaster-General Role
In December 1885, Daniel O'Connor was given an important job: Postmaster-General. This meant he was in charge of all postal services in New South Wales. He held this role for about two months.
When political parties started to become more common, he joined the Free Trade Party. He became Postmaster-General again in March 1889. This time, he served for over two and a half years.
Leaving and Returning to Parliament
After almost 14 years in the Legislative Assembly, Daniel O'Connor lost his seat in the 1891 election. This election saw the rise of the Labour Party.
After losing his seat, he was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council. This is another part of the parliament.
However, in 1892, a business he was involved in failed, and he had to declare bankruptcy. Because of this, he had to leave his seat in the Legislative Council. But he was reappointed in 1895 and served until 1898.
He tried to get back into the Legislative Assembly, joining the National Federal Party. In 1900, he was elected to represent Sydney-Phillip. He kept this seat until 1904, when he finally retired from public life.
World Travels
After leaving politics, Daniel O'Connor went on a big trip around the world. He visited England and Ireland, then traveled to the United States.
While in San Francisco in 1906, he experienced the terrible 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He lost all his belongings in the disaster.
Later Life and Passing
Daniel O'Connor passed away in 1914 at the age of 69 in Liverpool, New South Wales. He was buried in the Catholic section of the Waverley Cemetery.
