The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-03-28
DUKE OF TETUAN.
Famous Representative of O'Donnells
Dies in Suain.

Dies in Spain.
The Duke of Tetuan, the greatest
of the later representatives of the
famous O'Donnells in Spain, died re-
Gently.
The following account of his career
is taken from pen sketch of him i'll
The Nation of San Francisco and was
written just previous to the outbreak
of the Spanish-American war;
Few persons know that the sternest
enemy of American interference in
Spanish colonial atfairs-the man who
dictates to Minister Depuy de Lone
at Washington his bitterly anti-Cuban
policy-in short, the present powerful
holder Of the Spanish portfolio of for
eign affairs, is an Irish chieftain in
his own right,an the owner of a name
famous in the history of Ireland. He
is the Duke Of Tetuan, Spanish Min
lister of Foreign Affairs in Canovas'
ministry, and Lord Of Donegal in Ire
Land, and rejoices in the Milesian pa
fronymic of Charles O'Donnell.
Don Felipe Castro, the Spanish vice
consul in New York, said the Duke of
Tetuan is a keen and able statesman.
Most Of the foreign negotiations-the
loans and other affairs, for which en-
tire credit has been given to Senior
Canovas, are actually due to the mind
of the Duke of Tetuar.
Spain and it's erstwhile colonies pos
sess many distinguished families of
IRISH name and blood, not the least
notable Of which is that Of ODonnell
the O'Reillys, O'Neils, ODonagus,
Lynches, O'Mahers, Fitzgeralds, Pur-
cells, O'Higginses and legion of 9TH
ers in the Hiberno- Spanish or His
pano-Irish annals.
After the fall Of Limerick in 1851,
hundreds of the exiled Irish, of good
birth, took refuge in the armies Of
Europe, which gladly welcomed these
experienced soldiers and well-born
gentlemen. Throughout the term of
penal laws, which ensued, no pro-
fessed Catholic could enter the British
army or navy, or hold any civil posi-
ton Of consequence. AS result the
Mllesian Irish sent their younger sons
over the seas to earn abroad the titles
and honors which were denied them
at home. France, Spain and Austria
had all their Irish brigades, and Irish
generals were to be found in every
European service, save perhaps that
of Sweden.
Among the eXiles were two younger
sons of the particular branch Of the
O'Donnell family to which the Duke
of Tetuan belongs.
In the reign Of James l., Mail Gary
O'Donnell was prince Of Tyrconnell,
lord Of the mountainous country of
Donegal, and chief of his name and
race. He warred vallantly against
the English, but was at length taken
prisoner, and died in the tower Of
london. From the brother Of his
chief, Charles Oge O'Donnell, descend
ed the two young eXiles referred to.
They were Henry and Joseph O'Don-
nell, younger brothers Of Manus o.
Donnel, Of WitlfOrd Lodge, in the
County Mayo.
Henry entered the Austrian service
and rose to be baron and major
lDI IN, ,l>
1850, and became lieutenant general.
There was no need to cnnoblc him as
in Spain all the Irish cxilcs were rec
-ognized rs mobiles ready-made. Lieu
tenant General Don Joseph left four
sons distinguished in the army Of
their adopted country. The eldest.
Don Jose O'Donnel, was captain gen
x1al Of CASTLE, and the Youngest, DON
Enrique, was the famous Lieutenant
General O'Donncll, Count Of Absibad,
Regent Of Spain in 1912 and Captain
General Of Andalusa. The second Of
the four, Don Carlos, also a lieutenant
general and Knight of Saint Ferdi-
nand, died in $780, leaving two chill
dren, Of whom the eldest, Don Carlos
O'Donnell, was the father of the pres
ent Duke of Tetuan, while the second
was the renowned Field Marshal Don
T.eopoldo O'Domell, first duke of that
name.
Field Marshal O'Donnell was the
original of the character Of Gen. Vim
cente in Henry Seton Merriman's
Forthcoming novel, "The Tents Of Ke-
OAR" The characteristics Of Merri-
mans general We're almost exactly
those of the field marshal rs described
by his contemporaries.
The novelist's O'Donnell, while
more humorous, is not whit more
extraordinary than the O'Donnell
of history. In the novel is described
the manner in which Vncente really
the Duke Of Tetuan) escorted the
queen mother Christian out Of the
hands of the rebellious Carlists. This
feat O'Donnell actually accomplished
In 1896.
The queen mother made him lieuten.
amt general and Count of Lucena, but
Mater he was exiled by Espartero to
France. In 1913 he was sent to Cuba
n captain general (the position now
held by Gen. Weyler) On his return
to Spain in 1850, he led the party of
the young Queen Isabella. and achiev.