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John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill

1740 – 1798

Irish politician

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About John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill

Lived 1740 – 1798 (aged 58). John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill was a politician.

John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill PC (16 January 1740 – 18 June 1798) was an Irish politician.

O'Neill was the son of Charles O'Neill, Member of Parliament for Randalstown, by Catherine Brodrick, daughter of St John Brodrick, of Midleton, County Cork.

He was returned to the Irish House of Commons for Randalstown in 1760, a seat he held until 1783, and then represented County Antrim between 1783 and 1793. He was sworn of the Irish Privy Council in 1781.

In February 1782, he had been a delegate for Co. Antrim to the Ulster provincial Volunteer convention in Dungannon, and in November 1793 one of the five Co. Antrim delegates to the national Volunteer convention in Dublin that sought to build on the legislative independence secured for Ireland the previous year, with parliamentary reform.

In 1793, he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron O'Neill, of Shane's Castle in the County of Antrim. In 1795 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount O'Neill, of Shane's Castle in the County of Antrim, in the Irish peerage.

Lord O'Neill married the Honourable Henrietta Boyle, daughter of Charles Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan, in 1777. He was killed in the Battle of Antrim during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 at the age of 58 and was succeeded in the viscountcy by his son Charles, who was created Earl O'Neill in 1800.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Positions held
Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Ireland, Member of the Privy Council of Ireland

People in John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill?

Irish politician

When was John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill born?

John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill was born on 16 January 1740.

When did John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill die?

John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill died on 18 June 1798 in Kingdom of Ireland.

What was John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill's occupation?

John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill was a politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill

· Wikidata: Q6250974

· DBpedia: John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill. https://biography.guide/john-o-neill-1st-viscount-o-neill/

MLA: "John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-o-neill-1st-viscount-o-neill/.

Chicago: "John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-o-neill-1st-viscount-o-neill/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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