John O'Connor (North Kildare MP) facts for kids

John O'Connor (born October 10, 1850 – died October 27, 1928) was an important Irish politician. He started as a revolutionary who wanted Ireland to be independent. Later, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the British House of Commons, representing different areas of Ireland. He was also a lawyer in England.

O'Connor was very tall, standing at least 6 feet 6 inches! Because of his height, people often called him "Long John." In 1919, when he was almost 70 years old, he became a King's Counsel (KC), which is a special title for experienced lawyers.

Early Life and Irish Roots

John O'Connor's parents, William O'Connor and Julia Corbet, both spoke the Irish language fluently. He went to school in Cork, taught by the Christian Brothers. There's some debate about exactly where he was born, either in Mallow or Cork city.

As a boy, John started working as a traveler, possibly for a wine company or a drapery store. During this time, he joined the Fenian movement. The Fenians were a group of Irish people who wanted Ireland to be free from British rule. The Times newspaper said that O'Connor used his travels to help promote this group in County Cork.

From Revolutionary to Politician

John O'Connor was involved in Irish independence activities and was even imprisoned several times. In 1874, he traveled to the United States as a delegate for the Fenians.

A big change happened when Charles Stewart Parnell, a leader who wanted Home Rule for Ireland (meaning Ireland would govern itself), visited Cork. There was a plan for some Fenians to meet Parnell at Blarney train station. However, the train didn't stop there. When Parnell reached Cork, he met with Fenian leaders. He managed to get some of them to support him and others to remain neutral.

In January 1885, Parnell chose O'Connor to run for a parliamentary election in Tipperary. O'Connor was elected without anyone running against him. Later that year, he won the election for the new South Tipperary seat by a very large margin. He was elected again in 1886 without opposition.

Time in Parliament

In December 1890, the Irish Parliamentary Party had a big disagreement about Parnell's leadership. John O'Connor was one of Parnell's strongest supporters. He played a key role in the debates that followed, supporting Parnell.

In the 1892 general election, O'Connor lost his seat in South Tipperary. He also ran for Kilkenny City but lost there too. He was out of Parliament for 13 years. During this time, he became a barrister (a type of lawyer) in London in 1893. He also served on important committees, like the Royal Commission for the British Section of the Chicago Exhibition in 1893, and was a director of bus companies.

In February 1905, O'Connor returned to Parliament, winning the North Kildare seat without opposition. He continued to be elected without opposition until the 1918 general election. In that election, he was defeated by a candidate from the Sinn Féin party, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, who later became the last Governor-General of the Irish Free State.

Later Life and Legacy

As an Irish Nationalist MP, one of O'Connor's important achievements was getting an annual grant to help teach the Irish language in schools. Before World War I began, he also helped John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, buy thousands of rifles for the Irish Volunteers, a group formed to protect Home Rule.

John O'Connor was a well-liked person in the House of Commons and was known for his polite manner. The Times newspaper mentioned that he was good friends with important figures like Lord Loreburn and Sir John Brunner.

Interestingly, John O'Connor is said to have been the inspiration for the character of Sebastian Moran in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. Moran was the second-in-command to Professor Moriarty, a famous villain. The "Royal Mallows" regiment in one of Doyle's stories, 'The Green Flag', is based on a real regiment, and "Mallows" is a hint to O'Connor's possible birthplace.