Sir John O'Shanassy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Premier of Victoria | |
| In office 11 March 1857 – 29 April 1857 | |
| Preceded by | William Clark Haines |
| Succeeded by | William Clark Haines |
| In office 10 March 1858 – 27 October 1859 | |
| Preceded by | William Clark Haines |
| Succeeded by | William Nicholson |
| In office 14 November 1861 – 27 June 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Heales |
| Succeeded by | James McCulloch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 February 1818 Ballinahow, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 5 May 1883 (aged 65) Boroondara, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Margaret McDonnell |
| Relations | Mary Marlowe, granddaughter |
Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG (18 February 1818 – 5 May 1883), was an Irish-Australian politician who served as the 2nd Premier of Victoria. O'Shanassy was born near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of a surveyor, and came to the Port Phillip District (later Victoria) in 1839. He went into business in Melbourne as a draper, and by 1846 he was rich enough to be elected to the Melbourne City Council and to become the founding chairman of the Colonial Bank of Australasia. By the 1850s he was a major landowner and one of the wealthiest men in the colony. He also became a recognised leader of the large Irish Catholic community.