Arthur O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Arthur Edward Bruce O'Neill (19 September 1876 - 6 November 1914), was an Irish
Ulster Unionist Party
politician who was the first MP to be killed in World War I
O'Neill was the second but eldest surviving son of Edward O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill
, and his wife Lady Louisa Katherine Emma (née Cochrane). Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan
, was his younger brother. He was elected to the House of Commons
for Antrim Mid in 1910, succeeding his uncle Robert Torrens O'Neill
. O'Neill fought in the First World War as a Captain in the 2nd Life Guards
and was killed in action at Klein Zillebeke ridge, 6 November 1914, aged 38, the first MP to be killed in the conflict. His brother Hugh succeeded him as MP for Antrim Mid.
O'Neill married Lady Annabel, daughter of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe
, in 1902. Their eldest son Shane succeeded his grandfather in the barony in 1928 while their third son Terence O'Neill
was Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
between 1963 and 1969. Lady Annabel O'Neill later remarried and died in 1948.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
politician who was the first MP to be killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
O'Neill was the second but eldest surviving son of Edward O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill
Edward O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill
Edward O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill , known as Edward Chichester until 1855, was an Irish peer and Conservative politician....
, and his wife Lady Louisa Katherine Emma (née Cochrane). Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan
Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan
Robert William Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan PC , known as Sir Hugh O'Neill, Bt, from 1929 to 1953, was an Ulster Unionist member of both the UK Parliament and the Parliament of Northern Ireland....
, was his younger brother. He was elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Antrim Mid in 1910, succeeding his uncle Robert Torrens O'Neill
Robert Torrens O'Neill
Hon. Robert Torrens O'Neill , was an Irish Conservative, and later Irish Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1910....
. O'Neill fought in the First World War as a Captain in the 2nd Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
and was killed in action at Klein Zillebeke ridge, 6 November 1914, aged 38, the first MP to be killed in the conflict. His brother Hugh succeeded him as MP for Antrim Mid.
O'Neill married Lady Annabel, daughter of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe
Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe
Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe KG, PC , known as The Lord Houghton from 1885 to 1895 and as The Earl of Crewe from 1895 to 1911, was a British statesman and writer....
, in 1902. Their eldest son Shane succeeded his grandfather in the barony in 1928 while their third son Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
was Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
between 1963 and 1969. Lady Annabel O'Neill later remarried and died in 1948.