Captain Maurice
O'Connell (c.1812.......)
Back To . . . 28th
Foot The North Gloucestershire Regiment
Born :
circa 1812
Where Born :
Sydney
Occupation : Soldier
Date Returned :
Ship Arrived on : "Fairlie"
Rank on Discharge : Captain
Date of Enlistment :
the 73rd Rgt at 16 in
1828
Date of Enlistment : the 51st Rgt and on 22 June 1838
Transfered :
Where Enlisted : Sydney
Date of Discharge :
Where Discharged :
Died :
Where Died /
Buried :
Parents Names
Spouse's Name
: : .
Born :
Where Born :
Occupation :
Date Arrived
Ship Arrived on :
:
Died :
Where Died /
Buried :
Date Married :
Where Married : 1837
Spouse's Parents :
- Descendants
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- Area Settled :
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- Children :
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History
& Achievements :
- Captain O'Donnell (later Sir) was
born in Australia, son of Sir Maurice
O'Connell and grandson of Capt Bligh.
He joined the 73rd Rgt at 16 in 1828 and served with the
42nd "Black Watch" on Gibraltar at
this time. On 24th July 1835 he
was placed on half pay to become a mercenary soldier in
the Service of Queen Isabella of Spain the carlist war
was fought by Isabella's army and the army of Don Carlos
who was attempting to overthrow the Spanish
throne. The was had nothing to do with the
British Gvt or Army. The British Legion comprised mostly
of former British soldiers and sympathisersto Queen
isabella's cause and went to serve in Spain.
The Regt was called the 10th Munster Light Inf..
O'Connell led it for nearly two years from Sept 1835.
Within seven weeks of his marriage in 1837 the Legion was
disbanded at San Sabastion in Spain and O'Connell
returned to England much decorated. He joined the
51st Rgt and on 22 June 1838 was appointed Capt. in the
28th Rgt and came to Australia with his father and family
per the "Fairlie" "The
Birth of Central Queensland"
W.R.Golding 1966
This book is basically describing the founding of
Gladstone. Captain O'Connell features throughout
including in 10 page Gvt report in 1859 when he
left. He sailed there from Dydney on 1st
March 1854 HILLGROVE near
Armidale NSW was a name chosen by Sir Maurice
O'Connell (snr)
RIVERSTONE
(just a few miles from Windsor, my domicile) was
named after the birthplace Riverston in Ireland of Sir
Maurice O'Connell (snr). It was the name for the
land grant by Governor Macquarie and it was adopted for
the town that was formed there in 1878.
- © Copyright B & M Chapman
(QLD) Australia
- Last revised: April 13, 2004.