Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan
Encyclopedia
Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan (1893–1969), The O'Donovan
, MC
, held the position of The O'Donovan
from 1940 to his death in 1969. He was the son of Morgan William II O'Donovan
, The O'Donovan, and Mary Eleanor Barton, and was a descendant of Donal II O'Donovan
, The O'Donovan of Clancahill, the last such to be formally inaugurated in the ancient Gaelic
manner, with the White Rod, by the MacCarthy Reagh
, Prince of Carbery.
, and then Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, being commissioned in 1913. He fought in the First World War, and in 1917 was decorated with the Military Cross
. Between 1919 and 1920 he fought in the Iraq Campaign and was mentioned in despatches.
From 1937 to 1940 O'Donovan commanded the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
, fighting in the Second World War. He retired in 1944 with the rank of Brigadier General
. O'Donovan was then with the British Red Cross
and Order of St. John
in 1945.
O'Donovan
O'Donovan or Donovan is an Irish surname, as well as a hereditary Gaelic title. It is also written Dhonnabháin in certain grammatical contexts, and Donndubháin, being originally composed of the elements donn, meaning lord or dark brown, dubh, meaning dark or black, and the diminutive suffix án...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, held the position of The O'Donovan
Irish nobility
This article concerns the Gaelic nobility of Ireland from ancient to modern times. It only partly overlaps with Chiefs of the Name because it excludes Scotland and other discussion...
from 1940 to his death in 1969. He was the son of Morgan William II O'Donovan
Morgan William II O'Donovan
Morgan William II O'Donovan , The O'Donovan, held the position of The O'Donovan from 1890 to his death in 1940. He was the son of Henry Winthrop O'Donovan, The O'Donovan, and Amelia O'Grady, daughter of Gerald de Courcy O'Grady, The O'Grady, and Anne Wise...
, The O'Donovan, and Mary Eleanor Barton, and was a descendant of Donal II O'Donovan
Donal II O'Donovan
Donal II O'Donovan , The O'Donovan of Clann Cathail, Lord of Clancahill , was the son of Ellen O'Leary, daughter of O'Leary of Carrignacurra, and Donal of the Skins, The O'Donovan of Clann Cathail....
, The O'Donovan of Clancahill, the last such to be formally inaugurated in the ancient Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
manner, with the White Rod, by the MacCarthy Reagh
MacCarthy Reagh
The MacCarthy Reagh dynasty are a branch of the great MacCarthy dynasty, Kings of Desmond, deriving from the ancient Eóganachta, of the central Eóganacht Chaisil sept. The MacCarthys Reagh seated themselves as Princes of Carbery in what is now southwestern County Cork in the 13th century...
, Prince of Carbery.
Career
O'Donovan attended Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, and then Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, being commissioned in 1913. He fought in the First World War, and in 1917 was decorated with the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. Between 1919 and 1920 he fought in the Iraq Campaign and was mentioned in despatches.
From 1937 to 1940 O'Donovan commanded the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Royal Irish Fusiliers
The Royal Irish Fusiliers was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of the 87th Regiment of Foot and the 89th Regiment of Foot in 1881. The regiment's first title in 1881 was Princess Victoria's , changed in 1920 to The Royal Irish Fusiliers...
, fighting in the Second World War. He retired in 1944 with the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. O'Donovan was then with the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
and Order of St. John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
in 1945.
Marriage and issue
Morgan John Winthrop married Cornelia Bagnell, daughter of William Henry Bagnell and Florence May Burrowes, and they had issue:- Katharine Mary O'Donovan
- Morgan Gerald Daniel O'Donovan, The O'Donovan