Raymond O'Neill, 4th Baron O'Neill
Raymond Arthur Clanaboy O'Neill, 4th Baron O'Neill, is a Northern Irish peer, retired reservist officer and public administrator. He served as he served as Lord Lieutenant of Antrim between 1994 and 2008.O'Neill was born on 1 September 1933, the son of Shane O'Neill, 3rd Baron O'Neill. Raymond inherited the title when his father was killed in action in Italy during the Second World War. His mother Ann remarried, firstly in 1945 to the press magnate Esmond Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere, and secondly to the writer Ian Fleming in 1952.
O'Neill attended Eton and the Royal Agricultural College.
In 1963, O'Neill married Georgina Mary Scott, eldest daughter of Lord George Scott. Together they had three sons. His wife predeceased him, dying in 2017.Career
Military service
O'Neill was given an emergency commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps in 1952. The following year, he was transferred into the North Irish Horse, a unit in the Territorial Army, with the same rank; he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1956, Captain in 1961, and temporary Major in 1964. He was granted the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1971.
Between 1986 and 1991, he was Honorary Colonel D Squadron, The Royal Yeomanry, in 1986; and between 1988 and 1993, he was Honorary Colonel 69 Signal Squadron, 32 Signal Regiment. He was granted the honorary rank of Colonel in 1993.Public service
O'Neill also held a number of public offices alongside his army commitments. He was chairman of the Ulster Countryside Committee between 1971 and 1971, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board from 1975 to 1980, the Northern Ireland National Trust Committee from 1981 to 1991, and the Northern Ireland Museums Council from 1993 to 1998. He was President of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society from 1984 to 1986. In 1967, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim, and he served as Lord Lieutenant between 1994 and 2008.
O'Neill was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2009 New Year Honours.
