Arturo O'Neill

Arturo O'Neill de Tyrone y O'Kelly (January 8, 1736 – December 9, 1814) was a Spanish Army officer and colonial administrator. He came from a lineage that occupied prominent European positions and titles, since at least the 12th century.

Biography

Early years and military career Arturo (Arthur) O'Neill was born in Dublin, Ireland (although his ancestors were from County Tyrone, now in Northern Ireland ), on January 8, 1736. He was the third of five children of Henry O’Neill and Ana O’Kelly. He served in the campaign of Portugal in 1762.

Governor of West Florida

At the battle's conclusion on May 9, 1781, he was appointed governor of Spanish 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 and a lieutenant general of allies against Napoleon, replacing Governor Miguel de Uztaraiz on the council.

In order to defend Florida and help the guard there, he recommended creating at least six Amerindian companies formed by 100 soldiers each. Along with Amerindians, the mestizos also belonged to those companies. O'Neill wanted to increase the number of mestizos, proposing marriage between the Spanish and the Native Americans, because he considered that mestizo people kept a more friendly relationship with whites. To do this, he planned to send a missionary to the Native American villages and encourage miscegenation between the Christian Amerindians and the Spanish. In addition, he considered mestizos an important group in terms of the military and the economy. and was succeeded by Carlos Howard.

Governor of Yucatán and last years On December 13, 1792, he was appointed governor and captain general of Yucatán,

O’Neill died in Madrid on December 9, 1814, and was buried in a niche in the cemetery of the . He was unmarried and had no children.