Joseph O'Connell Ryan

Who was Joseph O'Connell Ryan?

Joseph O'Connell Ryan was a Canadian politician, barrister and editor.

Born in Dunnville, Canada West, the son of John O'Connell and the former Miss Ryan, he was educated at Regiopolis College; he adopted his mother's surname. In 1868, he married Mary Helena Macmanamin. He was editor of the British American in Kingston in 1870. Ryan was called to the Ontario bar in 1869 and to the Manitoba bar in 1872. He practised law in Portage La Prairie.

He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Member of the Liberal Party in an 1874 by-election to represent the riding of Marquette after losing the election earlier that year to Robert Cunningham. He was acclaimed in a by-election in 1878. From 1882 to 1916, Ryan was judge in the County Court for the Central Judicial District in Manitoba.

He died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 96.