O'Neill, Hugh, 3rd earl of Tyrone

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O'Neill, Hugh, 3rd earl of Tyrone [I] (1550–1616). O'Neill was brought up in England in the charge of Sir Henry Sidney and Leicester. On the death of his brother Brien in 1562 he succeeded to the earldom, though his title was not recognized by Elizabeth until 1585. He was sent to Ireland in 1568 after the death of Shane O'Neill as a counterweight to the influence of Turlough O'Neill, who claimed the headship of the family. But no sooner had he established his supremacy, by 1595, than he was in full-scale rebellion against Elizabeth, greatly encouraged by the catholic powers of Europe. He defeated and slew Sir Henry Bagenal at Yellow Ford in 1598, outmanœuvred Essex without great difficulty at their famous meeting in September 1599, and maintained resistance until crushed by Mountjoy in 1602. He was reconciled to James I but in September 1607 fled abroad with the earl of Tyrconnel. He died in exile in Rome, blind and powerless.

J. A. Cannon

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