Tomás O'Neill

Tomás O'Neill y Salmón (5 October 1764 – unknown) was a Spanish colonial governor of the western Caribbean archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, today part of modern Colombia.

O'Neill was the son of an Irish father and Canarian mother, and bilingual in Spanish and English, which aided his later career. He became the interpreter on board the Spanish expedition sent to expel the English-speaking population of the archipelago in 1789, having arrived in the New World nine years earlier aged 16. Rather than expelling them as agreed to by the colonial powers under the Treat of Versailles and the Convention of 1786, he was instrumental in not only helping secure the position of the English-speaking Protestant inhabitants, but becoming their governor, and having a significant impact on the islands at a pivotal time in their history.

Early life and career Tomás Francisco O'Neill y Salmón was born in Puerto de la Orotava (today Puerto de la Cruz) in the municipality of La Orotava, Tenerife, on October 5, 1764 to Patricio O'Neill (28 April 1740 – 18 April 1768 ) and Catalina Salmón. His father, Patricio or Patrick was a native of Waterford Ireland, He had married Catalina in January 1764, three years after arriving in Tenerife. Both of O'Neill´s parents died when he and his brother Enrique were young, and both were raised on Tenerife by their maternal aunt María Salmón.

Leaving his native Tenerife, he first tried his luck in the English-speaking new world, spending two and a half years in Charleston South Carolina, but later pursued his career in the Spanish-speaking New World.

Together with his brother Enrique, he served in the Spanish military in the last two decades of the 1700s and the early years of the 1800s. Tomás O'Neill served in the Regimiento de Infanteria Fijo de Cartagena in Cartagena de Indias, together with Enrique.

Tomás O'Neill arrives on San Andrés In December 1789, O'Neill, at the age of 25, was part of a Spanish mission under captain Juan de Gastelú to the islands of San Andrés and Providence in the western Caribbean. He was a lieutenant and English-speaking interpreter. "On December 21, 1789, the mission arrived in San Andrés. At dawn, Gastelú summoned the inhabitants and ordered them to evacuate, giving them four months, until April 1790, to collect and transport their belongings". It seems that O'Neill did more than interpret and in fact assisted in the mediation process between the Spanish Crown forces and the Islanders. O'Neill assisted in formulating the petition to the Spanish authorities for the islanders to remain on the islands, with the promise that they would be loyal subjects. "Compunct the inhabitants sent to Cartagena as their representative, the Irishman Lorenzo Thine with their pleas to the Crown". O'Neill was appointed governor of the islands and promoted to the rank of captain. The islands would fall under the jurisdiction of the Captain-General of Guatemala. This remained the situation until 1803, when per a request from O'Neill (with the support of the islanders), the islands (together with the Miskito Coast) were transferred to the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada, and thus they came under the administration of Cartagena. This change was significant and is the essential reason they are today part of Colombia. The Miskito Coast was transferred back to Guatemala in 1806. American geographer James J. Parsons characterized O'Neill's rule as one of a "benevolent dictator", A Catholic priest was appointed and sent from the mainland in 1803 on a salary of 30 pesos a month, and a church was constructed with funds from the Royal Treasury and Royal Coffers in Cartagena.

His pragmatic approach also extended to economic activities. O'Neill may have not only overlooked smuggling, but taken part. for reasons relating to the outbreak of new hostilities between Spain and Great Britain. The authorities believed the islands would be difficult to defend and O'Neill's abilities would be better utilized in Guatemala. Overall his policy with the continent was one of engagement. He established good relations with the King of the Miskito Coast; one of his last acts as governor was to sign a treaty with the Coast and its king, Stephen (Regent, 1800–1816).

British invasion On 26 March 1806 Captain John Bligh arrived on H.M.S. Surreyance of the Royal Navy with 144 sailors and soldiers. With only around 30 soldiers in the island's garrison, O'Neill was persuaded to surrender, and Bligh took control of the islands. He transported O'Neill to the continent and dropped him, his brother Enrique, a priest, and his men on a beach near Cartagena. O'Neill was court-martialled by the authorities for surrendering, but was acquitted. He returned to the Islands on 17 October 1807. Bligh had left the islands poorly defended, so O'Neill and his military force were able to recapture the islands for Spain.

Resignation O'Neill resigned as governor in 1810, citing ill health. There are a number of theories on O'Neill's resignation. Some argue that having returned to Cartagena against his will O'Neill had become aware of the likelihood of revolution against Spanish rule. The invasion had damaged his administration's infrastructure, and there were limited financial resources to restore it. They had daughter, Ann Eliza – unknown). He came to the Americas under Tomas's patronage – unknown) back in Waterford. Enrique it seems made a good marriage in Cartagena, however, other than a baptismal record, no other records of her have come to light.

Little is also known regarding Tomás O'Neill's activities after he stood down as governor. He had a daughter, born in 1817, seven years after he stood down. We also know that in 1822 Tomás O'Neill was on the island council,