| Arturo O'Neill de Tyrone | |
|---|---|
| 1st Spanish Governor of West Florida | |
| In office May 9, 1781 – 1794 |
|
| Preceded by | Peter Chester (British West Florida (1763-1784)) |
| Succeeded by | Enrique White |
| Governor of Yucatán (México) | |
| In office March 10, 1792 – 1794 |
|
| Preceded by | Jose Sabido de Vargas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 8, 1736 Dublín, Ireland |
| Died | December 9, 1814. Madrid |
| Profession | colonel and Political |
Arthur O'Neill of Tyrone, best known as Arturo O'Neill de Tyrone, was an Irish-born colonel who served the Spanish crown as governor of several places in New Spain (1781–1794). He came from a lineage that occupied prominent European positions and titles, beginning before the sixteenth century.
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Arthur O'Neill was born in Dublín, Ireland January 8, 1736. He was third of the 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).
As a youth, Arthur O'Neill went to Spain in 1752 as a cadet in the Irish Regiment.[1]
He was promoted to colonel of the Regiment of Hibernia after serving with distinction against the British at Pensacola in March 1781. At the battle's conclusion, on May 9, 1781, he was appointed governor of 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 of allies against Napoleon, replacing the governor Miguel de Uztaraiz.
On March 10, 1792 Arturo O'Neill became Marqués del Norte and governor of Yucatan, Mexico, replacing Don Jose Sabido de Vargas; and Viscount. In 1794, O'Neill stepped down as governor of West Florida and was replaced later by Enrique White.
His last position was as a soldier in the army of Spain against Napoleon. Arturo O´Neill died in Madrid in December 9, 1814.[2]
One of his sons was Patrick O'Neill.[1]