He was born in London, Canada West in 1844, the son of Hamilton Bligh O'Connor. He qualified to practice as an attorney in 1867 and was called to the bar in 1878. In 1875, he married Jane Watkins McLean. O'Connor served as mayor of Walkerton in 1880 and 1881. He was elected to the provincial assembly in an 1882 by-election held after Rupert Mearse Wells was elected to the House of Commons. In 1890, he was named Queen's Counsel. He died in 1900.[1]