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John Connor (1898–1978)

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John Connor (1898-1978) seaman and trade union leader 

Birth: 1898 at Liverpool, Lancashire, England, in 1899 son of John Dunphy, sugar-house labourer, and Mary Jane, née Greaves. Marriage: details unknown, to Rita, They had one son and one daughter. Death: 27 May 1978 in hospital at Chermside, Queensland. 

  • To Australia, early 1930s, work as ‘Liverpool Fireman’ providing experience of harsh living conditions.
  • To North Queensland where active in unemployed struggles. Later prominent in labour agitation at Mt Isa. Forced from Mt Isa by victimisation to Brisbane where secured work as coal-burning fireman.
  • From 1949 to 1961 secretary of Brisbane Branch of Seamen’s Union of Australia.
  • Prominent in peace and internationalist campaigns, assisting Chinese seamen on Gallic, British seamen on Afric, and visiting USSR.
  • Cause of death: chest infection, bronchitis and emphysema and carcinoma of the oesophagus.

Sources
Seamen’s Journal, January 1961, June 1978.

Citation details

'Connor, John (1898–1978)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/connor-john-33280/text41528, accessed 12 May 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1898
Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Death

27 May, 1978 (aged ~ 80)
Chermside, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Cause of Death

cancer (oesophageal)

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

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