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Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan

1893 – 1969

Irish noble

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About Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan

Lived 1893 – 1969 (aged 75). Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan was a British military personnel.

Brigadier Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan, The O'Donovan, MC (2 May 1893 – 28 April 1969 ) was a senior British Army officer who held the position of O'Donovan of Clan Cahill from 1940 to his death in 1969. He was the son of Morgan William II O'Donovan and Mary Eleanor Barton, and was a descendant in the male line from Donal II O'Donovan, The O'Donovan of Clancahill, who was the last chief of his sept inaugurated in the ancient Gaelic manner, with the White Rod, by his father-in-law MacCarthy Reagh, Prince of Carbery, circa 1584.

Career O'Donovan attended Marlborough College and then the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, being commissioned in 1913. He fought in the First World War, and in 1917 was decorated with the Military Cross. Between 1919 and 1920 he fought in the Iraq Campaign and was mentioned in despatches.

From 1937 to 1940 O'Donovan commanded the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, which served in Palestine during the Arab revolt. He later fought in the Second World War and commanded the 125th Infantry Brigade, part of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division. In January 1942 he took command of the 210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) as it was being converted into 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade. He retired in 1944 with the rank of brigadier. O'Donovan was then with the British Red Cross and Order of St. John in 1945.

Marriage and issue O'Donovan married Cornelia Bagnell, daughter of William Henry Bagnell and Florence May Burrowes, and they had issue:

Katharine Mary O'Donovan Morgan Gerald Daniel O'Donovan married Frances Jane, daughter of his father's old friend from the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer

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Important facts

Born
Birth century
Occupation
Education
Royal Military College, Sandhurst
Awards
Military Cross; Mentioned in Despatches
Also known as
Brigadier Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan, The O'Donovan

People in Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan?

Irish noble

When was Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan born?

Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan was born on 2 May 1893.

When did Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan die?

Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan died on 28 April 1969.

What was Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan's occupation?

Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan was a military personnel.

What nationality was Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan?

Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan

· Wikidata: Q6911723

· DBpedia: Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan. https://biography.guide/morgan-john-winthrop-o-donovan/

MLA: "Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/morgan-john-winthrop-o-donovan/.

Chicago: "Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/morgan-john-winthrop-o-donovan/.

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

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