Joseph O'Connell Ryan (December 18, 1841 – July 26, 1938) was a Canadian politician, barrister and editor. Born in Dunnville, Canada West, the son of John O'Connell and the former Miss Ryan, he was educated at Regiopolis College; he adopted his mother's surname. In 1868, he married Mary Helena Macmanamin. He was editor of the British American in Kingston in 1870. Ryan was called to the Ontario bar in 1869 and to the Manitoba bar in 1872. He practised law in Portage la Prairie. He died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 96.