Daniel O’Neill

Daniel O’Neill (born c. 1612—died Oct. 24, 1664) was an Irish politician and soldier who supported Charles I and Charles II during the English Civil Wars.

A member of the Clandeboye branch of the O’Neill family, he was a nephew of the celebrated Owen Roe O’Neill. He spent much of his early life at the court of Charles I and became a Protestant. He commanded a troop of horse in Scotland in 1639. He was involved in army plots in 1641, for which he was committed to the Tower of London, but he escaped abroad.

Just before the outbreak of the first English Civil War, he returned to England and served with the Royalist commander Prince Rupert, being present at the Battle of Marston Moor, the second Battle of Newbury, and the Battle of Naseby. He then went to Ireland to negotiate between James Butler, 12th earl of Ormonde, and Owen Roe O’Neill. He was made a major general in 1649 and, but for his Protestantism, would have succeeded Owen Roe as chief of the O’Neills.

He joined Charles II at The Hague and took part in the expedition to Scotland and the Scottish invasion of England in 1652. Upon the Restoration he received many marks of favour from the king, including grants of land and lucrative monopolies.