Edward Charles O'Brien

Background

Edward Charles O'Brien was born on April 20, 1860, in Fort Edward, New York, the son of James O'Brien, a well-to-do Irish farmer, and Mary (Walsh) O'Brien.

Education

Edward Charles O'Brien studied at the public school and the Granville Military Academy, New York.

Career

Following his education in the public school and in the Granville Military Academy, Edward O'Brien engaged for several years in the flour-commission business in Plattsburg, New York. The transportation phase of this business turned his attention toward deep waterways, foreign commerce, and maritime shipping.

He served as disbursing clerk in the United States House of Representatives during the Fifty-first Congress (1889 - 1891).

In 1892 and 1893, O'Brien was United States commissioner of navigation, and, as chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the Treasury Department, he won recognition for his satisfactory handling of the Norwegian and Swedish tonnage rate case.

In 1895, he was appointed by Governor Levi P. Morton commissary-general of the state of New York with the rank of brigadier-general. He resigned three months later to become commissioner of docks of New York City under Mayor Strong. During his four years in office he accomplished extensive dock improvements, acquired for the city over four million square feet of additional wharfage space by securing permission from the War Department to extend the pier head line farther into the North River, and constructed the city's first six recreation piers.

Following his retirement to private life in 1898, O'Brien organized and became president of the International Express Company, and of the Cuban and Pan-American Express Company.

In March 1905, O'Brien was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Uruguay and Paraguay by President Roosevelt. During his four years' residence in Montevideo and Asunción he negotiated and signed a naturalization convention between the United States and Uruguay (August 10, 1908), and an arbitration convention between the United States and Paraguay (March 13, 1909).

He was dean of the diplomatic corps at Asunción when the Paraguay revolution of July 2, 1908, occurred. With great coolness and diplomacy he succeeded in bringing about a cessation of hostilities, risking his life several times during the two days of heavy street fighting.

He resigned from the diplomatic service in 1909 and subsequently engaged in many enterprises connected with the development of South American ports and internal communications, and Latin American trade with the United States, at the same time neglecting no opportunity to promote understanding and good will between the South American countries and the United States. At the time of his death he was visiting Montevideo on business connected with the construction of a motor highway joining the capitals of Uruguay and Argentina.

Achievements

• During four years as commissary-general of the state of New York (1895-1898), O'Brian accomplished extensive dock improvements. Edward Charles O'Brien organized and became president of the International Express Company and of the Cuban and Pan-American Express Company in 1898. O'Brien negotiated and signed a naturalization convention between the United States and Uruguay (August 10, 1908), and an arbitration convention between the United States and Paraguay (March 13, 1909). Edward O'Brian was dean of the diplomatic corps at Asunción when the Paraguay revolution of July 2, 1908, occurred, which he successfully helped to resolve.

Connections

He was never married.

Father:

James O'Brien

He was a well-to-do Irish farmer.

Mother:

Mary (Walsh) O'Brien