Frank Patrick O'Connor (April 9, 1885 – August 21, 1939) was a Canadian politician, businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of Laura Secord Chocolates in Canada and Fanny Farmer in the United States. He is the namesake behind O'Connor Drive in Toronto.
O'Connor was born in Deseronto, Ontario, the son of Mary Eleanor McKeown and Patrick O'Connor. He quit school at the age of 14 and started working at Canadian General Electric in Peterborough. Around 1910 he opened The Canadian Chicle Co. at 283 George Street (North) in downtown Peterborough,[1] which sold candy and a form of Chiclets under the product name "Elizabeth's Best".[2]
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 companyedit
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]
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]
Legacyedit
A Roman Catholic, O'Connor gave $500,000 in the 1930s to the Archdiocese of Toronto under the trusteeship of Cardinal James Charles McGuigan, one of numerous bequests to causes and organizations in his faith.[4]
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.
Referencesedit
^"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.
^ abcd. Heritage Toronto. Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
^Frank Patrick O'Connor – Parliament of Canada biography
^. Archived from the original on 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
^. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
January 01, 1970
frank, patrick, connor, april, 1885, august, 1939, canadian, politician, businessman, philanthropist, founder, laura, secord, chocolates, canada, fanny, farmer, united, states, namesake, behind, connor, drive, toronto, senator, scarborough, junction, ontarioin. Frank Patrick O Connor April 9 1885 August 21 1939 was a Canadian politician businessman and philanthropist He was the founder of Laura Secord Chocolates in Canada and Fanny Farmer in the United States He is the namesake behind O Connor Drive in Toronto The Hon Frank Patrick O ConnorSenator for Scarborough Junction OntarioIn office December 6 1935 August 21 1939Appointed byWilliam Lyon Mackenzie KingPersonal detailsBorn 1885 04 09 April 9 1885Deseronto Ontario CanadaDiedAugust 21 1939 1939 08 21 aged 54 Toronto Ontario CanadaPolitical partyLiberalSpouseMary Ellen Hayes 1912 1931RelationsMary Eleanor McKeown and Patrick O Connor parents ResidenceO Connor HouseOccupationPolitician businessman Contents 1 Early years 2 Laura Secord candy company 3 Later life 4 Legacy 5 ReferencesEarly years editO Connor was born in Deseronto Ontario the son of Mary Eleanor McKeown and Patrick O Connor He quit school at the age of 14 and started working at Canadian General Electric in Peterborough Around 1910 he opened The Canadian Chicle Co at 283 George Street North in downtown Peterborough 1 which sold candy and a form of Chiclets under the product name Elizabeth s Best 2 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 editIn 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 editIn 1935 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King He represented the senatorial division of Scarborough Junction Ontario until his death in 1939 5 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 editA Roman Catholic O Connor gave 500 000 in the 1930s to the Archdiocese of Toronto under the trusteeship of Cardinal James Charles McGuigan one of numerous bequests to causes and organizations in his faith 4 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 edit 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Patrick O 27Connor amp oldid 1175195085, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
