Richard O'Connor

Richard Edward O'Connor, QC (4 August 1851 – 18 November 1912), Australian politician, was a member of the first federal ministry. O'Connor was born in the Sydney suburb of Glebe and was educated at Lyndhurst College, Sydney Grammar School, and at the St John's College, University of Sydney, graduating as a lawyer in 1871. He became a clerk to the legislative council, studied law, and was called to the bar in 1876. Almost from the beginning he wa... more

Richard Edward O'Connor, QC (4 August 1851 – 18 November 1912), Australian politician, was a member of the first federal ministry. O'Connor was born in the Sydney suburb of Glebe and was educated at Lyndhurst College, Sydney Grammar School, and at the St John's College, University of Sydney, graduating as a lawyer in 1871. He became a clerk to the legislative council, studied law, and was called to the bar in 1876. Almost from the beginning he was known as a sound lawyer and he subsequently built up a successful practice, he was also a well-known journalist writing for Irish-Australian and Catholic magazines. A Protectionist, O'Connor was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council 1887–98. He was Minister for Justice 1891–93 and Solicitor-General 1893. He was made a Q.C. in 1896, and in the same year was a member of the people's federal convention held at Bathurst. He was an earnest advocate for federation and was elected one of the New South Wales representatives for the... less