Joseph Leonard O'Brien explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Joseph Leonard O'Brien
Order:21st
Office:Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
Predecessor:David Laurence MacLaren
Successor:John B. McNair
Term Start:June 5, 1958
Term End:June 9, 1965
Governor General:Vincent Massey
Georges Vanier
Premier:Hugh John Flemming
Louis Robichaud
Constituency Mp2:Northumberland
Parliament2:Canadian
Predecessor2:John Patrick Barry
Successor2:John William Maloney
Term Start2:1940
Term End2:1945
Office3:Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick for Northumberland
Term Start3:1925
Term End3:1930
Office4:Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Predecessor4:Allison Dysart
Successor4:Frederick C. Squires
Term Start4:1926
Term End4:1930
Birth Date:10 November 1895
Birth Place:South Nelson, New Brunswick, Canada
Spouse:Kathleen O'Leary
Party:National Government

Joseph Leonard O'Brien (November 10, 1895  - June 18, 1973) was a Canadian politician and businessman. Born in South Nelson, New Brunswick, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1925 to 1930 and was Speaker of the Assembly. By profession he was a lumber merchant, operating a small sawmill in South Nelson.

In 1940, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Northumberland. A member of the National Government, he was defeated in 1945. In 1958, he was appointed the 21st Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and served until 1965.

He purchased Beaubears Island, New Brunswick in 1920 for the sum of $1.00. A monument stands in the national park on the island in his honour.

His remains rest at Malcolm Cemetery of St. Patrick's Church located in Nelson-Miramichi, Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.