John O'Shanassy
Sir John O'Shanassy | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Near Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 5 May 1883 (aged 65) Boroondara, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Statesman, businessman |
| Years active | 1839–1883 |
| Known for | Second Premier of Victoria |
Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG (18 February 1818 – 5 May 1883), was a prominent Irish-Australian statesman who served as the second Premier of Victoria. Originating from near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, he relocated to the Port Phillip District (which later became Victoria) in 1839. After establishing a successful drapery business in Melbourne, by 1846 he had accumulated enough wealth to secure a position on the Melbourne City Council and to become the inaugural chairman of the Colonial Bank of Australasia. By the mid-19th century, O'Shanassy had become a significant landholder and one of the wealthiest individuals in the colony, as well as a prominent leader within the Irish Catholic community.
Biography
In 1851, O'Shanassy was chosen to represent the City of Melbourne in the first Victorian Legislative Council. Following Victoria’s achievement of responsible government in 1856, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for both Melbourne and Kilmore constituencies, opting to serve Kilmore. He returned to the Legislative Council representing Central Province in 1868, then re-entered the Assembly in 1877 as member for Belfast (later Port Fairy), holding this seat until his death in 1883.
Originally viewed as a liberal figure, O'Shanassy emerged as head of the conservative opposition against William Haines’s reform-focused government, largely because of their conflicting stances on trade policy—O'Shanassy supported free trade while most liberals advocated protectionism. His first term as Premier began in March 1857 but was short-lived before Haines resumed office. He served a second term from March 1858 to October 1859 with Charles Gavan Duffy as his deputy; their leadership as Irish Catholics intensified sectarian divisions among the predominantly Protestant ruling class during the 1859 election. By the 1860s, O'Shanassy had firmly embraced conservative principles; his administration encountered fierce criticism from the liberal newspaper The Age and its owner David Syme, prompting him to cease government advertising in that publication. His government collapsed in June 1863 due to disagreements over land reform and he did not return to premiership thereafter.
In recognition of his service, O'Shanassy was granted a papal knighthood in 1859; however, this honor was only announced in Victoria early the following year and was satirized by Melbourne Punch. He was appointed CMG in 1869 and later elevated to KCMG in 1874. After retiring from parliamentary duties in February 1883, he passed away soon afterwards at Boroondara, Victoria.
References
- Geoff Browne, A Biographical Register of the Victorian Parliament, 1900-84, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1985
- Don Garden, Victoria: A History, Thomas Nelson, Melbourne, 1984
- Elizabeth Malcolm & Dianne Hall, A New History of the Irish in Australia, University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, 2018
- Antony O'Brien, Shenanigans on the Ovens Goldfields: the 1859 election, Artillery Publishing, Hartwell, 2005
- Geoffery Serle,The Golden Age: A History of Colonial Victoria, 1851-1861, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, 1963 (plus numerous reprints)
- Kathleen Thompson and Geoffrey Serle, A Biographical Register of the Victorian Parliament, 1856-1900, Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1972
- Raymond Wright, A People's Counsel. A History of the Parliament of Victoria, 1856-1990, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1992