Sir Brian O'Neill, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Sir Brian O'Neill, 2nd Baronet (died 1694 or 1697) was an important Irish landowner, lawyer, and judge. He was one of the Roman Catholic judges chosen by King James II of England. King James II wanted to have more Catholic people in important government jobs in Ireland. Because of this, Sir Brian and other Catholic judges have sometimes been seen in a negative way by historians. However, even after King James II was replaced by William of Orange, Sir Brian O'Neill continued to work for the new government for a while. He was the second person to hold the title of O'Neill Baronets of Upper Claneboys.

Early Life and Family

Sir Brian O'Neill's family was part of the Clanaboye O'Neills, a branch of the larger O'Neill dynasty. Not much is known about their family before the English Civil War. Brian's father, who was also named Brian, was the son of Neill Óg O'Neill. His grandmother was Lady Sarah MacDonnell, whose father was Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim.

Becoming a Baronet

Brian's father fought bravely in a battle called the Battle of Edgehill in 1642. As a reward for his courage and loyalty, he was given the title of baronet the next year. A baronet is a special title, like a knight, but it can be passed down through the family. There are different ideas about who his mother was. Some say she was Jane Finch, and others say she was Sarah Savage. The family's main home was at Upper Clandeboye in County Down, and they also owned land near Celbridge in County Kildare.

A Career in Law

The younger Brian O'Neill started studying law in 1664 at a place called Gray's Inn in London. Later, in 1674, he joined the King's Inn in Dublin, which is another place where lawyers train. He became the 2nd Baronet in 1670, or possibly in 1680, after his father passed away.

Important Family Connections

Brian married his cousin, Mary Plunkett. Mary was the daughter of Edward Plunkett and the sister of Christopher Plunkett, who was the 10th Baron of Dunsany. Mary had been married before to James Wolverston. Mary's mother, Lady Catherine MacDonnell, was the sister of the Marquess of Antrim. The Marquess of Antrim was a favorite of King Charles I of England and his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. It's interesting to note that Catherine's sister, Lady Sarah MacDonnell, was Brian's own grandmother. These strong family connections with powerful people likely helped him stay out of trouble after King James II lost his power.

Serving as a Judge

Starting in 1687, the English King tried to replace Protestant judges with Catholic ones. Brian O'Neill was chosen as a judge mainly because he was Catholic. Some people noted that he had only been a lawyer for about fifteen years before becoming a judge.

His Time on the Bench

In 1687, he became a judge of assize in Ulster. This meant he traveled to different parts of Ulster to hear court cases. The next year, he was appointed a judge in the Court of King's Bench (Ireland), which was a very important court. He served as a judge for less than a year before the Glorious Revolution happened. This was when King James I was overthrown. However, it seems he wasn't punished after King James I lost power. He continued to work as a judge of assize in 1689 and 1690. He likely passed away in 1694, though some records say 1697. He was buried in his wife's family tomb at Dunsany Castle. His son, Henry, became the 3rd Baronet. He also had a daughter named Elinor. The baronet title was no longer used after 1799.

What People Thought of Him

All the Catholic judges appointed by King James II faced a lot of criticism during and after their time on the bench. People accused them of not knowing enough about the law and not being fair. For example, a writer named Thomas Sheridan, who supported King James II, said that these judges were just puppets of the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. Sheridan called them "poor, needy, and shockingly ignorant of the law."

Surviving Political Changes

When we look at Sheridan's strong words about O'Neill, we should remember that Sheridan really disliked Tyrconnell. So, his opinions might have been influenced by that. However, other historians have pointed out that some of these judges, including O'Neill, managed to keep their good reputations and their land even after the revolution. This was not true for everyone, as some, like Garrett Dillon, had to leave the country.