O'Neill, Daniel

▪ Irish soldier

born c. 1612

died Oct. 24, 1664

      Irish supporter of Charles I and Charles II during the English Civil Wars.

      A member of the Clanaboy branch of the O'Neill family, he married a sister of the celebrated Owen Roe O'Neill. He spent much of his early life at the court of Charles I and became a Protestant. He commanded a troop of horse in Scotland in 1639; he was involved in army plots in 1641, for which he was committed to the Tower of London, but he escaped abroad. On the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to England and served with Prince Rupert, being present at the Battle of Marston Moor, the second Battle of Newbury, and the Battle of Naseby. He then went to Ireland to negotiate between Ormonde and Owen Roe O'Neill. He was made a major general in 1649 and, but for his Protestantism, would have succeeded Owen Roe as chief of the O'Neills. He joined Charles II at The Hague and took part in the expedition to Scotland and the Scotch invasion of England in 1652. At the Restoration he received many marks of favour from the King, including grants of land and lucrative monopolies.

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