Broughton O'Conor

Broughton Barnabas O'Conor (1 November 1868 – 2 February 1953) was a politician and barrister in New South Wales, Australia.

Early life O'Conor was born at Broughton Creek near Nowra to John O'Conor and Anne Stuart Connolly. He attended public schools before matriculating at Sydney Grammar School and then studying at the University of Sydney, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1892 and a Bachelor of Law in 1895. He was called to the bar in 1895. On 25 April 1901, O'Conor married Icey Britania Johnson, and they had two sons.

Political career O'Conor was a candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the district of Sherbrooke at the 1895 election as an independent Free Trade candidate, but was defeated with a margin of 252 votes (23.5%). 66% of the votes at Sherbrooke had been against the Constitution Bill in June 1898, however O'Conor stood as a National Federal Party candidate in support of Federation at the election in July 1898 and was narrowly elected with a margin of 21 votes (1.7%). He did not join the Progressive Party for the 1901 election, standing as an independent at the 1901 election and winning with an increased margin. He joined the Liberal Reform Party for the 1904 election. The party won the election, and O'Connor was appointed Minister of Public Instruction and Minister for Labour and Industry in the Carruthers ministry. O'Conor resigned from the ministry in May 1907. He did not stand for re-election, and retired in 1940.