John O'Connor (Canadian politician)

Summary

John O'Connor PC (January 1, 1824 – November 3, 1887) was a Canadian politician and cabinet minister.

John O'Connor
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Essex
In office
1867–1874
Succeeded byWilliam McGregor
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Russell
In office
1878–1882
Preceded byRobert Blackburn
Succeeded byMoss Kent Dickinson
Personal details
Born(1824-01-01)January 1, 1824
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedNovember 3, 1887(1887-11-03) (aged 63)
Cobourg, Ontario
Political partyConservative
CabinetPresident of the Privy Council
Minister of Inland Revenue
Postmaster General
Secretary of State of Canada

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Irish immigrants John and Mary O’Connor, he moved with his family to Essex County, Upper Canada in 1828.

A lawyer by training, he was elected to the 7th Parliament of the Province of Canada in 1863. In 1867, he was elected to the 1st Canadian Parliament representing the riding of Essex. He was re-elected to the 2nd Canadian Parliament but was defeated in the 1874 federal election. In the period of 1872 to 1873, he was President of the Privy Council, Minister of Inland Revenue, and Postmaster General.

He was re-elected again in the 1878 federal election for the riding of Russell. From 1878 to 1880, he again was the President of the Privy Council. As well he was the Postmaster General in 1880 and from 1881 to 1882. From 1880 to 1881, he was the Secretary of State of Canada.

In 1884, he was appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Ontario.

Electoral history edit

1875 Ontario general election: Ottawa
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel John O'Donoghue 852 35.35 −34.37
Liberal J. P. Featherston 800 33.20 −36.53
Conservative John O'Connor 758 31.45  
Total valid votes 2,410 54.25
Eligible voters 4,442
Liberal hold Swing −34.37
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
1878 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
  Conservative John O'Connor 1,612
  Unknown Ira Morgan 1,097


By-election: On Mr. O'Connor being appointed
President of the Privy Council, 4 November 1878
Party Candidate Votes
  Conservative John O'Connor acclaimed References edit
  • John O'Connor – Parliament of Canada biography
  • "John O'Connor". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
  1. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved 6 April 2024.