Nineteenth-century British biographical dictionary, read via the Wikisource transcription of volume 41. Written within a few years of the subject's death and the most detailed source for his military career and his four terms administering Queensland.
For “Education” FROM 1819 TO 1828 of Maurice Charles O'Connell
As an infant he was taken from Sydney to Ceylon, whence, in 1819, he was sent home to be educated, first at Dr. Pinkney's school at East Sheen, afterwards at the High School, Edinburgh. Thence he went to Dublin and Paris, where he was for a time a military student at the college of Charlemagne.
End date 1828 taken from the same entry, which has him entering the army that year.
For “Ensign, 73rd Regiment of Foot” FROM 1828 TO 1835 of Maurice Charles O'Connell
In 1828 he entered the army as an ensign in the 73rd regiment of foot. For three years he served in Gibraltar and Malta, and in 1831 went with his regiment to Jersey, where he acted as its adjutant till 1835, being promoted lieutenant on 24 Jan. 1834.
Corroborated by the ADB entry, which has him joining the 73rd Regiment at Gibraltar and Malta in 1828.
In 1835 he obtained leave to raise in Ireland a regiment of the British legion for Spain, was placed on half-pay on 24 July, and in September, within seven weeks after his marriage, embarked with the regiment, the 10th Munster light infantry, of which he had been gazetted lieutenant-colonel, to take service under Queen Isabella against Don Carlos.
The ADB entry agrees that in 1835 he raised and led a regiment of Irish volunteers in the Spanish Carlist wars.
For “General of Brigade, British Auxiliary Legion” 1837 of Maurice Charles O'Connell
During nearly two years he led this regiment, fought several engagements with the Carlists, and earned much distinction, becoming in turn colonel and deputy adjutant-general of the British legion and general of brigade.
Disbandment at San Sebastian in 1837 is from the following sentence of the same entry. The ADB entry likewise has him 'rising to general of brigade in the British Auxiliary Legion'.
For “Title (Knight Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic)” 1837 of Maurice Charles O'Connell
In 1837 the legion was disbanded at San Sebastian, and O'Connell returned to England, much disgusted with his treatment by the Spaniards, but decorated with the orders of knight-commander of Isabella the Catholic, knight of San Fernando, and knight extraordinary of Charles III.
The ADB entry agrees he returned to England 'with several Spanish decorations'. The subtype names the senior of the three; all three are listed in the summary.
For “Captain, 28th Regiment of Foot” 22 JUN 1838 of Maurice Charles O'Connell
On his return to England, O'Connell was attached to the 51st regiment, and on 22 June 1838 was appointed to be captain in the 28th regiment, which he accompanied to New South Wales under the command of his father, to whom he now became military secretary.
The ADB entry dates the purchase of the captaincy to June 1838 and his arrival in Sydney to 6 December 1838, and records that he sold the commission in 1844.
On 7 Nov. 1848 he retired from the legislature on being appointed a commissioner for crown lands beyond the settled districts of the colony in the Burnett district, and in 1853 he was requested to undertake the settlement of Port Curtis.
The ADB entry independently records that after Port Phillip he 'became commissioner of crown lands for the Burnett District'. No place row exists for the Burnett District, so placeId is omitted and the district is named in the summary.
For “Government Resident, Port Curtis” FROM JAN 1854 TO FEB 1860 of Maurice Charles O'Connell
in 1853 he was requested to undertake the settlement of Port Curtis, of which, in January 1854, he was appointed government resident, as well as commissioner of crown lands and police magistrate.
Supports the appointment and its January 1854 date. The place is recorded against Gladstone (id 365), the town at Port Curtis.
Four times it fell to his lot, as president of the council, to administer the government of the colony in the interregnum between two governors: first, from 4 Jan. to 14 Aug. 1868, on the departure of Sir George Bowen, when he entertained the Duke of Edinburgh; secondly, from 2 Jan. to 12 Aug. 1871, after the death of Colonel Blackall; thirdly, from 12 Nov. 1874 to 23 Jan. 1875, after the departure of the Marquis of Normanby to New Zealand, and again for less than a month in 1877.
First of four terms. The Wikipedia list of administrators and lieutenant-governors of Queensland gives the identical dates, 4 January 1868 - 14 August 1868.
secondly, from 2 Jan. to 12 Aug. 1871, after the death of Colonel Blackall;
Second of four terms. The Wikipedia list of administrators and lieutenant-governors of Queensland gives the identical dates, 2 January 1871 - 12 August 1871.
thirdly, from 12 Nov. 1874 to 23 Jan. 1875, after the departure of the Marquis of Normanby to New Zealand, and again for less than a month in 1877.
Third of four terms. The Wikipedia list of administrators and lieutenant-governors of Queensland gives the identical dates, 12 November 1874 - 23 January 1875.