Background
O'Brien was born in Harlaxton, a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland. The son of Patrick O'Brien and his wife Mary (née O'Neil), he took over the family farm in 1887 after the death of his father.
O'Brien was born in Harlaxton, a suburb of Toowoomba, Queensland. The son of Patrick O'Brien and his wife Mary (née O'Neil), he took over the family farm in 1887 after the death of his father.
He then became involved in Road construction and was responsible for many public works in the Toowoomba area. O'Brien married Margaret Mary Fahy in 1899 and together they had four children
O'Brien served one term and did not stand for re-election in 1907. Losing his farm after politics, he took up work as a yardman at a Hotel in Brisbane.
O'Brien died in 1932 and was buried in the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery.
O'Brien was a member of the Highfields Divisional Board from 1896 to 1898.