Background
He was born in Castledown in County Cork, the son of Theophilus O'Leary and Ellen Power.
He was born in Castledown in County Cork, the son of Theophilus O'Leary and Ellen Power.
He represented Kent County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1873 to 1878. O'Leary came to North America in 1852, settling in Richibucto three years later. In 1859, he bought a store and a wharf there.
In 1864, he purchased land nearby where he built a canning plant for lobster and salmon. O'Leary acquired additional canneries until he had at least 30 in New Brunswick and several in Prince Edward Island. He exported his products to England and the United States.
He also owned sawmills and was involved in shipbuilding. He was first elected to the provincial assembly in an 1873 by-election held after the death of William Shand Caie. As a Roman Catholic, he opposed the 1871 Common Schools Act and lobbied to have the act repealed.
O'Leary ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in 1878. He died in Dorchester at the age of 65.