William O'Shea

William O'Shea
Capt. William O'Shea.
Member of Parliament for Galway Borough
In office 1886–1886
Preceded by	T. P. O'Connor
Succeeded by	John Pinkerton
Member of Parliament for Clare
In office 1880–1885 Serving with James Patrick Mahon
Preceded by	James Patrick Mahon Lord Francis Conyngham
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	1840 Dublin, Ireland, UK
Died	22 April 1905 (aged 65)
Political party	Independent Nationalist
Spouse(s)	Katharine O'Shea (until 1890)
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	18th Royal Hussars

Captain William Henry O'Shea (1840 – 22 April 1905) was an Irish soldier and Member of Parliament.

Born in Dublin, O'Shea was a captain in the 18th Hussars of the British Army.

Around 1880, his wife, Katharine O'Shea, entered into a relationship with Charles Stewart Parnell, with whom she had three children. O'Shea, who was already separated from his wife, knew of the relationship. He only filed for divorce in 1890 after her aunt, from whom he was expecting a large inheritance, died in 1889 leaving her estate in trust for his wife (thus allegedly violating the terms of O'Shea's marriage contract). However, that will was overturned upon appeal, and the aunt's legacy was shared among Katharine O'Shea's siblings.

After the divorce the two surviving children of CS Parnell and Katherine O'Shea were given into Captain O'Shea's custody.

O'Shea was MP for Clare from 1880 to 1885 and Galway Borough for a short period in 1886. Although supported by Parnell, he was never a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party.