John O'Connell

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

O'Connell, John, third and favourite son of preceding, was born in 1811. He was called to the Bar, and early took a prominent part in politics with his father, entering Parliament in 1832 for Youghal. Successively representing Youghal, Athlone, Kilkenny, and Limerick, he sat continuously until 1851, and again represented Clonmel from 1853 to 1857. An amiable and conscientious man, he was generally respected, but he was quite unable to sustain the role of leader of the Repeal agitation after his father's decease.

The Loyal National Repeal Association was broken up, 6th June 1848, the "rent" having dwindled down to £12 the previous week. Its only official publications ordinarily to be met with are three volumes (1844-'6) of Reports of the Parliamentary Committee of the Repeal Association. John O'Connell retired from parliamentary life in 1857, on being appointed by Lord Carlisle to the clerkship of the Hanaper Office in Ireland. He was known in the literary world as the editor of the Life and Speeches of Daniel O'Connell (Dublin, 1846), and as the author of two volumes of Parliamentary Recollections and Experiences (Dublin, 1846), and the Repeal Dictionary (1845). He died in Kingstown, 24th May 1858, aged 47, and was buried at Glasnevin.

Sources

7. Annual Register. London, 1756-1877.

233. Manuscript and Special Information, and Current Periodicals.

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