Quick Facts
Biography
Arturo O'Neill de Tyrone y O'Kelly (January 8, 1736 – December 9, 1814) was an Irish-born Spanish colonel who served the Spanish crown as governor of several places in New Spain (1781 — 1800). He came from a lineage that occupied prominent European positions and titles, since at least the 12th century.
Biography
Early years and military career
Arturo (Arthur) O'Neill was born in Dublin, Ireland (although his ancestors were from County Tyrone, now in Northern Ireland), in January 8, 1736. He was the third of five children of Henry O’Neill and Ana O’Kelly. One of his brothers was Lieutenant Colonel Niall O'Neill (later Nicolás O'Neill y O'Kelley). His family lost their lands in Ireland, forcing them to emigrate. His parents carried Arturo and his brothers to Spain. In 1752, O'Neill, when he was still a youth, joined the Irish regiment in Ireland, as a cadetunder the command of his cousin, the regimental commander José Camerford.
The following year, O'Neill transferred to the Regiment of Hibernia, to which he belonged for the next 28 years of his military career. He was sub-lieutenant for nine years and he also attained the ranks of Lieutenant general and Field marshal. He served in the campaign of Portugal, in 1762. He was then in the garrison of Oran, Algeria, and later, in 1775, in the military campaign of Algiers. He was also involved in the campaign against Brazil, which contributed to the seizure of Fort Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina Island, where he served as governor until the end of the war.
His military skills enabled him to obtain, in 1764, promotion to Assistant Major of the Hibernia Regiment. In addition, in 1773, while serving in Pamplona, Spain, O'Neill obtained the rank of Captain of the regiment. Later, O'Neil was promoted to Colonel of the Regiment after serving with distinction against the British at the Siege of Pensacola (in the city of same name) in March 1781.
Governor of West Florida
At the battle's conclusion, on May 9, 1781, he was appointed governor of Spanish West Florida in the service of New Spain, proving to be an effective diplomat and an able administrator. Later he became a member of the Supreme War Council and a lieutenant general of allies against Napoleon, replacing the governor Miguel de Uztaraiz on the council.
In late May or early June 1784, O'Neill participated in the Creek Conference, during which Spain and the Creeks signed a treaty of friendship. In addition, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Cherokees sought help from O'Neill to defend against American encroachment or invasion, so the military commandant and governor sent reinforcements to the areas of these peoples. In 1786, McGillivray informed O'Neill that the Americans were trying to make friends with the Creeks. So, fearing that the alliance could be detrimental to West Florida, Spanish officials negotiated another treaty with Native Americans in Mobile. (At that time, West Florida extended all the way to the Mississippi River, exclusive of New Orleans.)
In late 1787, O'Neill, based on the fact that he had ruled Florida for six years (when five was customary), asked the Spanish crown if he might ascend to the title of brigadier and be appointed the Governor of Puerto Rico or to a similar position. He did not receive the requested transfer.
O'Neill's health began to fail in 1788 and he requested a temporary leave of absence in order to be able to recover. The crown accepted and replaced O'Neill as Governor for the interim by Francisco Cruzat, former lieutenant governor of St. Louis. In addition, O'Neill? was promoted to brigadier general in 1789.
When O'Neill returned to Pensacola (capital city of West Florida) the following year, he organized the Third Battalion of the Regiment of Louisiana Infantry to strengthen its military position. On March 10, 1792, Arturo O'Neill became Marqués del Norte (Marquis of North).
In order to defend Florida and help the guard there, he recommended creating at least six Amerindian companies formed by 100 soldiers each. Along with Amerindians, the mestizos also belonged to those companies. O'Neill wanted to increase the number of mestizos, proposing marriage between the Spanish and the Native Americans, because he considered that mestizo people kept a more friendly relationship with whites. To do this, he planned to send a missionary to the Native American villages and encourage miscegenation between the Christian Amerindians and the Spanish. In addition, he considered mestizos an important group in terms of the military and the economy.
He left the office of Governor of West Florida in November 1792. Carlos Howard filled the position for the better part of a year, until August 1793.
Governor of Yucatan and last years
To following month, on December 13, 1792, he was appointed governor and captain general of Yucatan, and Intendent de Tabasco y la Laguna de Términos, but the office of Governor was expanded him with the quartermaster on January 20, 1793, taking over possession of it on June 29, 1793. He replaced Joseph Sabido de Vargas, who held the position of Interim Governor, following the murder of the owner Lucas de Galvez, which occurred on June 22 last year. During his government he took urgent measures to prevent the spread of the rabies, which came to represent a public health risk in the Yucatan. He expanded the supply of teachers for schools and also had to tackle smuggling that was done from across the province of Cuba and the islands the Caribbean Sea.
He faced harassment by English buccaneers in Walix (Belize), where he led an failed expedition, which resulted in the idea that Great Britain had conquered eastern territories of the Peninsula. He carried out the seizure of the ship, La Bella Jane in San Francisco de Campeche.
O'Neill wrote a book entitled Description, population and census of the Province of Yucatan in New Spain in 1795, which was never printed.
He served as governor of Yucatan until October 19, 1800, when he gave the charge to Benito Perez Valdelomar. Back in Madrid, he was appointed Minister of the Royal and Supreme Council of War. His last position was as a soldier in the army of Spain against Napoleon.
Arturo O’Neill died in Madrid in December 9, 1814. and was buried on the 11th, in a niche in the cemetery of the Gate Wells.
Personal life
He was unmarried and had no children.