Frank Patrick O'Connor
The Hon. Frank Patrick O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senator for Scarborough Junction, Ontario | |
| In office December 6, 1935 – August 21, 1939 | |
| Appointed by | William Lyon Mackenzie King |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1885 Deseronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | August 21, 1939 (aged 54) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Mary Ellen Hayes 1912–1931 |
| Relations | Mary Eleanor McKeown and Patrick O'Connor (parents) |
| Residence | O'Connor House |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
Frank Patrick O'Connor (April 9, 1885 – August 21, 1939) was a Canadian politician, businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of
Early years
O'Connor was born in
O'Connor married Mary Ellen Hayes. With $500 in financing from local partners they moved to Toronto in 1912 and opened a new store at 354 Yonge Street.[3]
Laura Secord candy company
In 1913, he opened the Laura Secord candy store on (at 354) Yonge Street. In 1919 he expanded across Canada and into the United States, where the chain was known as Fanny Farmer candy stores.[4] In 1923 Laura Secord became the first candy manufacturer in the world to introduce a profit-sharing plan.[4]
Later life
In 1935, he was appointed to the
Frank and Mary Ellen had a daughter, Mary; and Frank adopted Mary Ellen's young son William.
O'Connor survived his wife, who died in 1931, and died at this estate at age 54.[4]
Legacy
A Roman Catholic, O'Connor gave $500,000 in the 1930s to the
Senator O'Connor College School, a Toronto Catholic District School Board high school, was named in his honour.
His 600 acre estate was later acquired by the Toronto Catholic School Board (located next to the high school named after him) and sold. It was being restored[6] and has been damaged by a fire in 2012.[7] The remaining lands of the 240 hectares estate was developed for residential use.
One of the 15 islands that make up Toronto Islands Park is called Senator Frank Patrick O'Connor Island on Google maps. There are no buildings on this island and it is only accessible by water.
References
- ^ "Peterborough Directory 1910, Union Publishing Company of Ingersol, Insert after p. 104". 1910.
- ^ "The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley", Vol. 12., No. 4, Enid Mitchell, p. 9, February 2008".
- ^ "Historicist: A Box of Laura Secord". 13 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Francis Patrick O'Connor – A Legacy of Generosity". Heritage Toronto. Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ^ Frank Patrick O'Connor – Parliament of Canada biography
- ^ "O' Connor House". Archived from the original on 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ^ "Fire at historic O'Connor House in east end - CityNews". Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2012-05-09.