Gordon O'Neill

Gordon O'Neill, was an Irish colonel in King James II's army who fought in the Battle of the Boyne and the Battle of Aughrim for the Jacobites. (Graham 1841) (Webb 1878)

Biography

Gordon was born, probably in 1650, as the only child of Felim O'Neill of Kinard and his third wife Jean Gordon. His father was a prominent member of the O'Neill dynasty and one of the leaders of the Irish Confederation. His mother was a daughter of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, and the widow of Claud Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane. His parents were both Catholic. They married in November 1649.[1]

He was a young child during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1653). His father was executed in 1653 after the defeat.

Gordon O'Neill raised a regiment for King James II in 1689 and became a colonel in the Irish army. He saw action in Ulster, at the Battle of the Boyne, and the Battle of Aughrim.[2] At the latter action, he was left for dead but was picked up by some Scottish Williamite officers who recognised him. He recovered from his wounds, and took his regiment to France after the Treaty of Limerick in 1692. There, it was known as the Régiment de Charlemont.[3] He was still alive in 1704.

The 17th-century Irish poet Dermot McMurray (Irish: Diarmuid Mac Muireadhaigh) is believed to be the author of a Gaelic poem about him.

Notes and references
  1. Webb 1878, p. 417: "In November 1649 he married Lady Jane Gordon a daughter of the Marquis of Huntly and the widow of Lord Strabane."
  2. Graham 1841, p. 277:"... distinguished himself with his nephew, Captain Manus O'Kane, at the Siege of Derry and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Aughrim."
  3. D'Alton 1855, p. 473: "In the brigades commissioned for the French service, of that style 'Regiment of Charlemont', commanded by Gordon O'Neil at its first formation ... "
  • D'Alton, John (1855), Illustrations, historical and genealogical, of King James's Irish army list, 1689, Dublin: Published by the author
  • Graham, Rev. John (1841), Ireland Preserved; or The Siege of Londonderry and The Battle of Aughrim with Lyrical Poetry and Biographical Notes, Dublin: Hardy & Walker, p. 277 - Short biography in the biographical notes
  • Webb, Alfred (1878), "O'Neill, Sir Felim", Compendium of Irish Biography, Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son, pp. 416–418
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