Daniel O'Neill (Royalist) facts for kids

Daniel O'Neill (Irish: Dónall Ó Néill) was an important Irish soldier, politician, and government official. He was born around 1612 in Castlereagh, Ireland, and died in 1664 in Whitehall, England. Daniel was part of the powerful O'Neill Dynasty from Ulster and was the nephew of a famous general, Owen Roe O'Neill.

Early Life of Daniel O'Neill

Daniel O'Neill was the oldest son of Con Mac Niall O'Neill, a lord from Clandeboye. His mother was Eilis. We don't know the exact year Daniel was born. Some records suggest it was around 1602 or 1603, while others point to 1612. He had three younger siblings: two brothers, Aodh Buidhe and Con Og, and one sister, Catherine.

When Daniel was young, his father lost some land after a big battle called the Siege of Kinsale. Because of this, Daniel inherited a small estate in 1619 when he was still a child. He then became a "ward of Chancery," which meant the court looked after him. He was raised in England and followed the Anglican religion. Later, his estate was given to Viscount Montgomery, and Daniel and his brother were given a yearly payment instead.

Daniel O'Neill's Army Career

Daniel O'Neill spent many years traveling between the royal court in England and fighting in armies in the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands and Belgium). This was a great way to learn and get ahead in those times. He volunteered to fight against the Spanish before 1635. His uncle, Owen Roe O'Neill, was also fighting there for the Spanish.

In 1635, Daniel sought help to get fair treatment regarding his family's land. He wanted to make sure he received proper payments from the land that was taken from his family. He wasn't poor, but getting more money would help him advance in society.

In 1637, Daniel fought in the Siege of Breda, where he was wounded in the leg. He had to return to England to recover.

By 1639, Daniel was a captain in the army. He was known for his bravery and experience. He fought in the Bishops' Wars against the Scottish Covenanters. In 1640, he was made a freeman of Belfast. He was later promoted to major and fought in the second Bishops' War at the Battle of Newburn. During a cavalry charge, he was captured but was later released.

Supporting the Royalist Cause

After some difficulties, Daniel O'Neill went to Brussels. There, he gathered soldiers and weapons to help the Royalist side in the English Civil War. This war was fought between those who supported King Charles I (the Royalists) and those who supported Parliament.

Daniel was an experienced cavalry officer. He joined Prince Rupert of the Rhine, who was the Royalist cavalry general. Prince Rupert made Daniel a lieutenant colonel, putting him in charge of his own cavalry group.

Daniel fought in many important battles:

• The Battle of Powick Bridge
• The Battle of Edgehill
• The Chalgrove Field, where he bravely captured the Parliamentarian flag.
• The First Battle of Newbury

After the war, Daniel O'Neill became a spy for King Charles II, who was in exile at the time.

Life After the Restoration

In September 1660, Daniel O'Neill married Katherine Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield. She was marrying for the third time.

In November 1660, King Charles II gave Daniel a special patent for 21 years. This made him the King's only gunpowder maker. He received money to build gunpowder factories and could bring in saltpetre (a key ingredient for gunpowder) without paying taxes. Daniel didn't have experience making gunpowder, so he hired others to produce it for him.

Daniel O'Neill also became the Postmaster General of the United Kingdom in 1663. This meant he was in charge of carrying all letters and mail in the country. He had a monopoly, meaning only he was allowed to deliver letters. He held this important job for about a year until he died. The King's court realized that running the post office was a very good way to make money.

King Charles II also gave Daniel O'Neill the Belsize House estate near Hampstead. Daniel rebuilt the main house in 1663. This area later became a popular public garden and gave its name to the Belsize Park district we know today.

Important Roles

• Groom of the Chamber: 1644–49, 1661–64 (This was an important role serving the King directly).

Death

Daniel O'Neill passed away on October 24, 1664. After his death, his wife, Katherine Stanhope, gave up the gunpowder contract but kept his position as Postmaster General for a short time. Daniel was buried in the church at Boughton Malherbe, Kent, where his wife was also later buried.

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