Baron Rathcavan
Encyclopedia
Baron Rathcavan, of The Braid in the County of Antrim, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
. It was created in 1953 for the Unionist politician Sir Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baronet
. He had already been created a Baronet, of Cleggan in the County of Antrim, in 1929. O'Neill was the third son of Edward O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill
(see the Baron O'Neill
for earlier history of the family) and the uncle of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Terence O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine
. Lord Rathcavan was also a male-line descendant of Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester
(see the Marquess of Donegall
). He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, the second Baron. He succeeded his father as Unionist Member of Parliament
for Antrim
in 1952, a seat he held until 1959, and was later a member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
. the titles are held by his son, the third Baron, who succeeded in 1994. As a descendant of both the second Baron O'Neill and the first Viscount Chichester, Lord Rathcavan is in remainder to the barony of O'Neill as well as to the viscountcy of Chichester and the earldom of Donegall.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's son Hon. Francois Hugh Nial O'Neill (b. 1984)
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
. It was created in 1953 for the Unionist politician Sir Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baronet
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....
. He had already been created a Baronet, of Cleggan in the County of Antrim, in 1929. O'Neill was the third 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....
(see the Baron O'Neill
Baron O'Neill
Baron O'Neill, of Shane's Castle in the County of Antrim, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1868 for the musical composer The Rev...
for earlier history of the family) and the uncle of the 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...
Terence O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine
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...
. Lord Rathcavan was also a male-line descendant of Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester
Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester
Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester was the younger brother of Arthur Chichester, Baron Chichester. He was knighted in 1616, and after his brother's death in 1625 was in his memory ennobled as Viscount Chichester, of Carrickfergus in the County of Antrim, and Baron Chichester, of Belfast in...
(see the Marquess of Donegall
Marquess of Donegall
Marquess of Donegall is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Chichester family, originally from Devon, England. Sir John Chichester sat as a Member of Parliament and was High Sheriff of Devon in 1557. One of his sons, Sir Arthur Chichester, was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1604...
). He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, the second Baron. He succeeded his father as Unionist Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Antrim
Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Antrim is former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922-1950.-Boundaries:...
in 1952, a seat he held until 1959, and was later a member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
. the titles are held by his son, the third Baron, who succeeded in 1994. As a descendant of both the second Baron O'Neill and the first Viscount Chichester, Lord Rathcavan is in remainder to the barony of O'Neill as well as to the viscountcy of Chichester and the earldom of Donegall.
Barons Rathcavan (1953)
- (Robert William) Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron RathcavanHugh O'Neill, 1st Baron RathcavanRobert 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....
(1883–1982) - Phelim Robert Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Baron RathcavanPhelim O'Neill, 2nd Baron RathcavanPhelim Robert Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Baron Rathcavan PC , was a politician in Northern Ireland and a hereditary peer in the British House of Lords....
(1909–1994) - Hugh Detmar Torrens O'Neill, 3rd Baron RathcavanHugh Detmar Torrens O'Neill, 3rd Baron RathcavanHugh Detmar O'Neill, 3rd Baron Rathcavan , was a hereditary peer who sat as a crossbencher in the British House of Lords from 1994 until 1999....
(b. 1939)
The heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is the present holder's son Hon. Francois Hugh Nial O'Neill (b. 1984)
See also
- Baron O'NeillBaron O'NeillBaron O'Neill, of Shane's Castle in the County of Antrim, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1868 for the musical composer The Rev...
- Earl O'NeillEarl O'NeillViscount O'Neill was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1795 for John O'Neill, who had earlier represented Randalstown and County Antrim in the Irish House of Commons. He had already been created Baron O'Neill, of Shane's Castle in the County of Antrim, in 1793, also in the...
- Baron O'Neill of the MaineTerence O'NeillTerence 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...
- List of Northern Ireland Members of the House of Lords
- Marquess of DonegallMarquess of DonegallMarquess of Donegall is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Chichester family, originally from Devon, England. Sir John Chichester sat as a Member of Parliament and was High Sheriff of Devon in 1557. One of his sons, Sir Arthur Chichester, was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1604...
- O'Neill dynastyO'Neill dynastyThe O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...