Dowell Philip O'Reilly (18 July 1865 – 5 November 1923) was an Australian poet, short story writer and politician.
Early life O'Reilly was born in Sydney to a clergyman father.
Political career In 1894 O'Reilly was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Parramatta and sat for four years. In 1910 he again stood for Parramatta, this time as a Labor candidate with the encouragement of Billy Hughes, but was defeated, and shortly afterwards obtained a position in the Sydney land tax branch of the Commonwealth Treasury. In 1913, Hughes asked O'Reilly about the views of his brother-in-law, Albert Piddington, on states' rights. O'Reilly cabled Piddington to clarify this, and as a result of Piddington's reply, "In sympathy with supremacy of Commonwealth powers", Hughes appointed him to the Australian High Court. As a result of opposition to his appointment and his belief that he was compromised by the exchange of cables he resigned without sitting in court.
Bibliography Poems Australian Poems under pseudonym 'D'. (1884) Pedlar's Pack. (1888)
Short stories Tears and Triumph (1913) Five Corners. (1920)
Letters Dowell O'Reilly From his Letters. (1927)
Individual poems "Sea-Grief" (1899)
References