John Ryan Brenan (1 January 1798 – 5 June 1868) was an Australian politician and an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 68 days in 1856.
[1] He emigrated to Sydney in 1834 and held numerous judicial appointments including Superintendent of Convicts,[2] Coroner,[3] and Police Magistrate.
[4] At the same time he established a private legal practice and was the solicitor for the Bank of Australasia.
[6] However, Weekes had also been a candidate for the seat of Northumberland Boroughs and although initially defeated in that electorate, he successfully contested the result and was declared to be the member.
[9] Brenan was unsuccessful in the 1857 Cumberland (South Riding) by-election caused by the resignation of William Manning,[10] and in the seat of Hartley at the 1859 election,[11] and he did not stand for further public office.