Michael P. O'Connor (politician)

Michael Patrick O'Connor (September 29, 1831 – April 26, 1881) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from South Carolina from 1879 to 1881.

Early life
Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, O'Connor attended the public schools and was graduated from St. John's College, Fordham, New York, in 1850. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1854 and commenced practice in Charleston, South Carolina. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate military as a lieutenant in the Lafayette Light Artillery.

Political career
He served as member of the South Carolina House of Representatives 1858–1866. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1872 and 1876. He argued against secession in the state house of representatives.

Congress
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1874 to the Forty-fourth and in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congresses, but was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881).

Death and burial
He received credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-seventh Congress, but died, pending a contest by Edmund W.M. Mackey (which subsequently resulted successfully for the contestant), in Charleston, South Carolina, April 26, 1881. He was interred in St. Lawrence Cemetery.