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{{Infobox officeholder
[[Category:Satavian military leaders]][[Category:19th-century Satavian politicians]][[Category:20th-century Satavian politicians]][[Category:Prime Ministers of Satavia]][[Category:Governors-General of Satavia]][[Category:Satavian politicians]] [[Category:Satavian people]]{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix  = {{wpl|Admiral}}<br>{{wpl|The Right Honourable}}
| honorific_prefix  = {{wpl|Admiral}}<br>{{wpl|The Right Honourable}}
| name              = {{wpl|Sir}} Arthur O'Connell
| name              = Sir Arthur O'Connell
| honorific_suffix  = MDC, MDNO, MG, ORC
| honorific_suffix  = {{template:post-nominals|country=SAT|PCe|SK|MDC|MDNO|MG|ORC}}
| image              = John Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet.jpg
| image              = John Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet.jpg
| image_size        =  
| image_size        = 230px
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| order              =  
| order              =  
| office            = [[List of Prime Ministers of Satavia|Prime Minister of The Hope Dominion]]
| office            = 14th [[List of governors-general of Satavia|Governor-General of Satavia]]
| term_start        = 17th February 1896
| term_start        = 1 January 1912
| term_end          = 1st January 1900
| term_end          = 31 December 1926
| monarch           = [[Charles II]]
| monarch= [[Edward IV]]<br>[[Richard XIII]]
| governor-general          = [[TBD]]
| primeminister  = [[Jacobus Pienaar]]<br>[[Sydney Warwick]]
| parliamentarygroup =  
| parliamentarygroup =  
| predecessor        = [[Derek Maskpin]]
| predecessor        = [[Charles Kitchener]]
| successor          = ''Himself'' as [[List of Prime Ministers of Satavia|Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Satavia]]
| successor          = [[Jonty Goodwin|Lord Ashgrove]]
| office2           = [[List of Prime Ministers of Satavia|Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Satavia]]
| office2             = 11th [[Prime Minister of Satavia|Prime Minister of Satavia]]
| term_start2        = 1st January 1900
| term_start2        = 22 August 1883
| term_end2         = 18th October 1924
| term_end2           = 13 January 1901
| monarch2           = [[TBD]]
| monarch2= [[Edward IV]]
| predecessor2      = ''Himself'' as [[List of Prime Ministers of Satavia|Prime Minister of the Hope Dominion]]
| governor-general2  = [[John Warwick|The Earl of Northport]]<br>[[Edward Kaynes|Lord Dosford]]<br>[[Karl de Rutherford]]<br>[[Patrick Brook-Bank]]
| successor2        =  [[Edward Limes]]
| parliamentarygroup2 =  
| parliamentarygroup2 =
| predecessor2        = [[Willem Pienaar]]
| constituency2      = [[Adamstown|Member of Parliament for Adamstown West]]
| successor2          = [[Henry King-Stewart|The Earl of Westanquay]]
| pronunciation  =  
| pronunciation  =  
| birth_date      =  {{Birth date|1866|10|11}}
| birth_date      =  {{Birth date|1846|10|11}}
| birth_place    = [[Port Hope]], [[Estmerish Hope]]
| birth_place    = [[Dunore]], [[Caldia]]
| death_date      =  {{Death date and age|1951|04|17|1866|10|11}}
| death_date      =  {{Death date and age|1944|12|17|1846|10|11}}
| death_place    = [[Port Edward]], [[Satavia]]
| death_place    = [[Port Edward]], [[Satavia]]
| death_cause    = {{wpl|Stroke}}
| death_cause    = {{wpl|Stroke}}
| resting_place  = [[St Patrick's Cathedral]], [[Port Hope]]
| resting_place  = [[St Patrick's Cathedral]], [[Port Hope]]
| nationality    = [[Satavia|Satavian]]
| nationality    = [[Satavia|Satavian]]
| party          = [[Conservative Party (Satavia)|Conservative Party]]
| party          = [[Conservative & Country Party|Conservative]]
| height          = 1.93 meters
| height          =
| spouse          = Emily O'Connell
| spouse          = Emily O'Connell
| children        = 3
| children        = 3, including [[George O'Connell]]
| father          = [[James O'Connell]]
| alma_mater      = [[Royal Naval College, Port Hope]]
| alma_mater      = [[University of Montecara]]
| occupation      =  
| occupation      = {{wpl|Admiral}}
| committees      =  
| committees      =  
<!--Military service-->
<!--Military service-->
| nickname        =  
| nickname        =  
| allegiance      = [[Estmere]] (until 1900) <br> [[Satavia]] (1900-1935)
| allegiance      = {{flagicon|Satavia|1844}} [[Dominion of Satavia]]
| branch          = [[Kingdom of Estmere|Royal Estmerish Navy]] (until 1900) <br> [[Satavian Navy|Royal Satavian Navy]] (1900-1935)
| branch          = {{flagicon|Satavia|naval-1844}} [[Royal Satavian Navy]]
| serviceyears    =  
| serviceyears    = 1858-1879
| rank            = {{wpl|Admiral}} (1896-1927) <br> {{wpl|Chief of the Defence Staff|Chief of the Royal Satavian Armed Forces}} (1927-1935)
| rank            = {{wpl|Admiral}}
| commands        = [[Kingdom of Estmere|HMeS Centurion]] (1891 - 1893) <br> [[Kingdom of Estmere|HMeS Port Hope]] (1893-1896) <br> [[Satavia|Hope Division]] (1896-1907) <br> [[Satavia|Royal Satavian Navy]] (1907-1927) <br> {{wpl|Chief of the Defence Staff|Satavian Armed Forces}} (1927-1935)
| commands        = [[Satavia|Hope Division]]<br>[[Satavia|HMSS Victorious]]<br>[[Satavia|HMSS Cape James]]<br>[[Satavia|HMSS Conqueror]]<br>[[Satavia|HMSS Richard V]]
| battles         = [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]]
| battles= [[Estmero-Tinpot Country War]]
| mawards        =  
*[[Battle of Cape Creak]]
| mawards        = ''[[Arthur O'Connell#Awards|See list]]''
| military_blank1 =  
| military_blank1 =  
| military_data1  =  
| military_data1  =  
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}}
}}


{{wpl|Admiral}} {{wpl|Sir}} '''Arthur George Stobart O'Connell''', MDC, MDNO, MG, ORC (11 October 1866 - 17 April 1951) was a [[Satavia|Satavian]] {{wpl|naval officer}} who served as [[List of Prime Ministers of Satavia|Prime Minister of Satavia]] from 1896 until 1924, and oversaw the transition of Satavia from [[Estmerish Hope|Estmerish Rule]] to an independent kingdom. He also served as {{wpl|Chief of the Defence Staff|Chief of the Royal Satavian Armed Forces}} from the outbreak of war in 1927 until 1935, when he was removed from the post by the [[Satavia|Provisional Republican Government of Satavia]]. He fought in the [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]] and the TBD War. He was a uniting figure, and deeply revered among the populace. In September 1935, following the [[February Coup]], he left Satavia for {{wpl|self-imposed exile}} in 1935, and lived in [[Montecara]], where he had attended University, until 1939, when he returned to [[Satavia]] following a request from the [[Governor of Satavia|Governor]]. His tenure as Prime Minister saw the increasing powers of the King, and, by 1908, the Prime Minister had very little powers whatsoever. This allowed him to continue as a naval officer, even attending the [[University of Montecara]] in 1912, whilst serving as Prime Minister.  
{{wpl|Admiral}} '''Sir Arthur George Stobart O'Connell''', {{post-nominals|country=SAT|sep=,|PCe|SK|MDC|MDNO|MG|ORC}} (11 October 1846 - 17 December 1944), born '''Artúr Seoirse Stobard Ó Conaill''', was a [[Satavia|Satavo-Caldian]] [[Satavia|Royal Satavian Navy officer]] and leading statesman who served as the 11th [[Prime Minister of Satavia|Prime Minister of the Dominion of Satavia]] and later as the 14th [[Governor-General of Satavia]]. Son of the Caldish poet [[Séamus Ó Conaill]], O'Connell was born in [[Dunore]], [[Caldia]] and moved with his family to [[Port Hope]] in 1855, as a result of the [[Blight of 1854]]. O'Connell's father would die when he was 11, and as the eldest of his four siblings, O'Connell was forced to look for a job. O'Connell joined the Royal Satavian Navy as a {{wpl|boy seaman}} at the age of 12; both his brothers would later follow suit. It soon became clear that O'Connell was a gifted sailor, and he was enrolled at the [[Royal Naval College, Port Hope]] at age 17. He {{wpl|passing out|passed out}} the next year aged 18 and was commissioned as a {{wpl|Sub-Lieutenant}} aboard [[HMSS Port Hope (1852)|HMSS ''Port Hope'']] in 1865.  


He died on the 17 April 1951, in [[Port Edward]] of a stroke. A three-day period of national mounrning was declared, and he was awarded a {{wpl|state funeral}}. He is burried in [[St Patrick's Cathedral]], alongside [[King TBD]] and [[TBD]]. In a 2008 poll, Satavians named him as "Satavia's greatest Satavian".
O'Connell would be chosen to serve as {{wpl|flag lieutenant}} to [[Richard Stanley, 1st Earl Stanley of Dolphin Bay|Admiral Stanley]], who would later be elevated to the peerage as The Earl Stanley of Dolphin Bay, during his time aboard ''Port Hope''. O'Connell impressed Stanley to the extent that Stanley began to take a personal interest in O'Connell's career even after he had been replaced as flag lieutenant when Stanley moved to the new, state-of-the-art flagship [[HMSS King George|HMSS ''King George'']].  


He was criticised in his life time for allowing the establishment of an effective {{wpl|absoloute monarchy}}, and was also labelled as a "dictator" during certain parts of his premiership.
In the following years, O'Connell would rise rapidly through the ranks, in part due to his association with Stanley, who had in 1871 become [[Chief of the Naval Staff (Satavia)|Chief of the Naval Staff]]. In 1872, aged 26, O'Connell received his first command as a {{wpl|Captain}}; [[HMSS Richard V|HMSS ''Richard V'']], an ageing frigate. By 1876, with the [[Estmero-Tinpot Country War]] well underway, O'Connell was given orders to sail [[HMSS Cape James|HMSS ''Cape James'']] and several other vessels to assist the Estmerish fleet in combat off the coast of [[Cape Creak]]. Within days of arriving, O'Connell was instrumental in overcoming superior numerical odds at the [[Battle of Cape Creak]]. His experience and actions in the war lead to his promotion to {{wpl|Commodore}}. In 1878, he was given command of the [[Satavia|Hope Division]], which comprised both Satavian and Estmerish naval vessels.


==Early life==
By 1879, however, O'Connell had grown restless and decided to pursue a career in politics. Having informed Admiral Stanley of his wishes, Admiral Stanley allowed for him to be immediately discharged with full honours (despite the normal period at the time being around three years). He stood for election as the [[Conservative & Country Party|Conservative]] candidate for [[Satavia|Grange]], in the [[Hope Province]]. He had been chosen to stand for Grange as it had previously been a [[United Dominion Party]] safe seat, but it was also home to a large dockyard and significant [[Caldia|Ghallish]] population. He won a landslide election, and within two years had risen to prominence within the Conservative party. [[Johan van Vallier|Johan van Vallier's]] replacement as party leader was [[Daniel McCrory]], who was unpopular both within the party and across the country. During the early 1880s, the new UDP government soon fell apart rocked first by the resignation of [[Oliver Booth]] due to ill-health, and soon his replacement [[Derek Auldwin]] faced calls to resign or face a no-confidence vote within a month of becoming Prime Minister. Sensing an opportunity, O'Connell whipped up support within the Chamber of Commons to oust the Prime Minister. He impressed many within the party and defeated McCrory in a leadership election by the end of July 1883. O'Connell led the party to an electoral landslide in the [[1883 Satavian general election]], becoming Prime Minister at age 37.
Arthur O'Connell was born on the 11 October 1866 in [[Port Hope]]. The oldest of four, O'Connell was a quater [[Caldia|Caldian]] and born to [[James O'Connell]], a senior civil servant and poet. O'Connell went to school in Port Hope, before leaving at 14 after the murder of his father. Now the family's principal breadwinner, he was unofficially employed as a {{wpl|deckhand}} at age 15, but only officially joined the Navy at age 17, in 1883.


==Career==
During his first term as Prime Minister, O'Connell oversaw a large and controversial resettlement process that cleared out many of the slums that had surrounded Port Hope and forced many poor people into workhouses. His policies, however, encouraged economic growth and helped kick-start the [[Estmerish Miracle]]. O'Connell would later run for re-election in [[1887 Satavian general election|1887]], and again in [[1891 Satavian general election|1891]], [[1895 Satavian general election|1895]] and [[1899 Satavian general election|1899]], all the while enjoying a vast parliamentary majority in both chambers. Despite winning a four-year mandate to govern in the 1899 general election, O'Connell retired mid-way through his fifth term citing personal reasons. His replacement was Treasurer and close ally [[Henry King-Stewart|Lord Westanquay]] - who would later fail to win re-election in the [[1903 Satavian general election|1903 general election]], ending Conservative leadership for the first time in twenty years.
O'Connell first served as a {{wpl|Sailor}} in 1883, the lowest rank possible in the Hope Division of the Royal Estmerish Navy. He was swiftly promoted, and by 1887 was a Lieutenant. In 1891, he was promoted to Commander, and was given command over the River Patrol Vessel [[Kingdom of Estmere|HMeS Centurion]]. He held this command for two years, and in 1893, was promoted to Captain, and was asigned as Captain for the Hope Division's flagship, [[Kingdom of Estmere|HMeS Port Hope]]. Following the death of the Hope Division's Commander, O'Connell was appointed as commander for the division. In February of 1896, just under a month since his appointment as Commander of the Hope Division, he was elected as [[List of Prime Ministers of Satavia|Prime Minister]]. He began his premiership by announcing his intention to seek independence for the Hope, and, after three years of negotiation, secured a deal with the Estmerish Government - preperations were made for independence, including a referendum on the status of the Estmerish monarchy in an independent Satavia, that saw the creation of a Satavian Monarchy, and the rejection of the "joint partners under a shared monarch" proposal by the Estmerish government.


In 1900, he made sure that he retained his position as Commander of the Hope Division, with the Division being transfered to the Royal Satavian Navy. Royal Estmerish Army regiments stationed in Satavia that were made up of Satavians (called the "Hope Brigades") were transfered to the Satavian Army, and castles, forts and ports were also transfered, along with huge stockpiles of equipment.
O'Connell travelled across much of the world in the early 1900s and would return to Satavia in 1906 to begin teaching at the [[Royal Naval College, Port Hope]]. He was knighted by [[King Edward IV]] in 1909 and was appointed to the {{wpl|Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council of Estmere}} later that year. In 1911, it was confirmed that O'Connell would replace [[Charles Kitchener]] as [[Governor-General of Satavia]] at the start of 1912, a position he would hold for just under 15 years.  


Later that year, O'Connell achieved re-election in the [[1900 General Election (Satavia)|1900 General Election]], and saw the effective transition of power from a consitutional monarchy (previously under the Estmerish Monarchy) to an effective absolute monarchy, where the Prime Minister held very little power, often being completely sidelined by the King. By
O'Connell finally retired in 1927, although would later be evacuated aboard [[HMS Richard X|HMS ''Richard X'']] when Nuvanian forces landed and occupied Satavia. Moving to [[Caldia]], O'Connell retired there until 1942, when he returned to Satavia after the National Government agreed to return his estate in Port Edward to him, having seized it in February 1939. O'Connell died of a {{wpl|stroke}} aged 98 in December 1944 at his estate in Port Edward. He lay in state in [[St Patrick's Cathedral]] in Port Hope for three days, before being awarded a full state funeral. It remains the most attended and most expensive state funeral in Satavian history.


In 1907, O'Connell was given control of the Royal Satavian Navy, giving him complete control over all Naval Affairs in Satavia. One year later, in 1908, O'Connell succeded in  effectively reducing the office of Prime Minister to a merely symbolic position, with the King holding absoloute constitutional power. In 1912, whilst serving as Prime Minister, O'Connell attended University in Montecara. During this time he also continued to serve as Commander of the Royal Satavian Navy.
Widely considered one of the three 'political giants' of the Dominion, O'Connell remains popular in Satavia, although in recent years he has been criticised for his policies towards natives during a period now known as the [[Great Shame]]. In a 2008 poll, he was named 'Satavia's Greatest Satavian', and many parks and public places are named after him.
 
In 1914, the [[Great Collapse]] reached Satavia, causing wide-spread unemployment, followed by protests and strikes, crippling the Satavian Government and economy. O'Connell entered Satavia into a period of {{wpl|fiscal austerity}}, drastically cutting public spending and even cutting military spending, despite his connection with the military.
 
O'Connell continued to secure [[Conservative Party (Satavia)|Conservative]] victories, and in 1916, he had his 20th anniversary in office. It was around 1916 when he was first majorly criticised, with foreign news organisations labeling him as a "dictator" and "power-graber". O'Connell responded by supressing distribution of articles that criticised him directly; articles that criticised the government were permitted.
 
In 1918, the ban on freedom of press was removed after widespread condemnation worldwide. In 1920, O'Connell was re-elected in his seventh electoral campaign. His last four years in office were marked with a period of political stability and openness that saw various political reforms in Satavia, such as the introduction of Freedom of Speach. Whilst he was praised, some argued that it was too little, too late.
 
In 1924, O'Connell chose not to stand for elecetion again, having served as Prime Minister for 28 years. In 1925 he was knighted by [[King TBD]].
 
===Great War===
After the outbreak of war in TBD, O'Connell was promoted to Commander in Chief of the Satavian Armed Forces, a position he would hold until 1935. Very quickly, the relatively small Satavian army was overpowered by the combined forces of [[Satucin]] and Nuvania, and other [[Entente]] forces.
 
* Satavia Overrun
* Continues as Chief of Satavian Armed Forces throughout war
 
===Post Great War===
Following the end of the Great War and the Liberation of Satavia, O'Connell returned to Port Hope on the 13th February, 1935 - one day after the war had officially ended. The King was due to arrive the next day on the 14th, however, in the early hours of the 14th Republican Forces lead by Field Marshal [[Oscar Harrison]] arrested O'Connell, and declared the [[Provisional Republic of Satavia|Satavia]]. The King was exiled, and tried ''{{wpl|in absentia}}'' on the same day, being found guilty on four counts of Treason agianst the State and Republic - the trial is widely accepted as a {{wpl|show trial}}. O'Connell was stripped of his commands and titles (including his knighthood), but not trialed due to his immense popularity. In September 1935, he left for self imposed {{wpl|exile}} in Montecara.
 
==Later Life==
===Self-Imposed Exile in Montecara===
O'Connell arrived in Montecara in September 1935 following his depature from Satavia. Whilst living in Montecara, he travelled much of [[Euclea]], including attending the funeral of his grandfather, whom he had never met, in [[Spálgleann]], Caldia. Much of his time in Montecara was spent living a secluded life with his wife, away from the press. His three children had stayed in Satavia. In 1937, O'Connell published his memoires, entitled ''A Friend of A King'', although changed in Satavia to ''An Admiral'', following legal complications with the Satavian Government. The book was not initially a success; however, when reprinted in mid-1938, under the title ''An Admiral, Prime Minister and Kingmaker: Arthur O'Connell'', the book was an instant success in Satavia, becoming a bestseller despite attempts to stop the re-print by Satavian Prime Minister [[John Velix]]. In 1939, on request of the Governor of Satavia, O'Connell returned to Satavia after having his titles re-instated (including his knighthood). His family home was also returned to him.
 
===Death===
On 17th April 1951, at his stately home near Port Edward, Arthur O'Connell died from a stroke. A three day national mounring period was declared, and O'Connell was granted a state funeral. Over a million attended his funeral, with just over a million queing to pay respects to his coffin at [[St Patrick's Cathedral]]. On the 27th April, 10 days after his death, O'Connell was burried next to the bodies of [[King TBD]] and [[Other TBD Great Satavian Man]].
 
==Legacy==
O'Connell is one of the most famous Satavians of all time - in a 2008 poll, he was voted as "Satavia's greatest Satavian". He is studdied in detail by School Children. O'Connell has several places named after him, inculding Mount O'Connell (previously Mount James), [[Port Hope|O'Connell Street, Port Hope]], [[Port Hope|O'Connell Park]] and [[Port Hope|O'Connell District, Port Hope]].
 
==Awards==
* Companion of the Order of Imagua (1948)
* More TBD
 
==See Also==
* [[Prime Minister of Satavia]]
* [[Satavia|Kingdom of Satavia]]
 
[[Category:Satavia]] [[Category:Prime Ministers of Satavia]]

Latest revision as of 18:11, 3 March 2024

Sir Arthur O'Connell
John Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet.jpg
14th Governor-General of Satavia
In office
1 January 1912 – 31 December 1926
MonarchEdward IV
Richard XIII
Prime MinisterJacobus Pienaar
Sydney Warwick
Preceded byCharles Kitchener
Succeeded byLord Ashgrove
11th Prime Minister of Satavia
In office
22 August 1883 – 13 January 1901
MonarchEdward IV
Governor-GeneralThe Earl of Northport
Lord Dosford
Karl de Rutherford
Patrick Brook-Bank
Preceded byWillem Pienaar
Succeeded byThe Earl of Westanquay
Personal details
Born(1846-10-11)October 11, 1846
Dunore, Caldia
DiedDecember 17, 1944(1944-12-17) (aged 98)
Port Edward, Satavia
Cause of deathStroke
Resting placeSt Patrick's Cathedral, Port Hope
NationalitySatavian
Political partyConservative
SpouseEmily O'Connell
Children3, including George O'Connell
Alma materRoyal Naval College, Port Hope
Military service
AllegianceSatavia Dominion of Satavia
Branch/serviceSatavia Royal Satavian Navy
Years of service1858-1879
RankAdmiral
CommandsHope Division
HMSS Victorious
HMSS Cape James
HMSS Conqueror
HMSS Richard V
Battles/warsEstmero-Tinpot Country War
AwardsSee list

Admiral Sir Arthur George Stobart O'Connell, PC, SK, MDC, MDNO, MG, ORC (11 October 1846 - 17 December 1944), born Artúr Seoirse Stobard Ó Conaill, was a Satavo-Caldian Royal Satavian Navy officer and leading statesman who served as the 11th Prime Minister of the Dominion of Satavia and later as the 14th Governor-General of Satavia. Son of the Caldish poet Séamus Ó Conaill, O'Connell was born in Dunore, Caldia and moved with his family to Port Hope in 1855, as a result of the Blight of 1854. O'Connell's father would die when he was 11, and as the eldest of his four siblings, O'Connell was forced to look for a job. O'Connell joined the Royal Satavian Navy as a boy seaman at the age of 12; both his brothers would later follow suit. It soon became clear that O'Connell was a gifted sailor, and he was enrolled at the Royal Naval College, Port Hope at age 17. He passed out the next year aged 18 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant aboard HMSS Port Hope in 1865.

O'Connell would be chosen to serve as flag lieutenant to Admiral Stanley, who would later be elevated to the peerage as The Earl Stanley of Dolphin Bay, during his time aboard Port Hope. O'Connell impressed Stanley to the extent that Stanley began to take a personal interest in O'Connell's career even after he had been replaced as flag lieutenant when Stanley moved to the new, state-of-the-art flagship HMSS King George.

In the following years, O'Connell would rise rapidly through the ranks, in part due to his association with Stanley, who had in 1871 become Chief of the Naval Staff. In 1872, aged 26, O'Connell received his first command as a Captain; HMSS Richard V, an ageing frigate. By 1876, with the Estmero-Tinpot Country War well underway, O'Connell was given orders to sail HMSS Cape James and several other vessels to assist the Estmerish fleet in combat off the coast of Cape Creak. Within days of arriving, O'Connell was instrumental in overcoming superior numerical odds at the Battle of Cape Creak. His experience and actions in the war lead to his promotion to Commodore. In 1878, he was given command of the Hope Division, which comprised both Satavian and Estmerish naval vessels.

By 1879, however, O'Connell had grown restless and decided to pursue a career in politics. Having informed Admiral Stanley of his wishes, Admiral Stanley allowed for him to be immediately discharged with full honours (despite the normal period at the time being around three years). He stood for election as the Conservative candidate for Grange, in the Hope Province. He had been chosen to stand for Grange as it had previously been a United Dominion Party safe seat, but it was also home to a large dockyard and significant Ghallish population. He won a landslide election, and within two years had risen to prominence within the Conservative party. Johan van Vallier's replacement as party leader was Daniel McCrory, who was unpopular both within the party and across the country. During the early 1880s, the new UDP government soon fell apart rocked first by the resignation of Oliver Booth due to ill-health, and soon his replacement Derek Auldwin faced calls to resign or face a no-confidence vote within a month of becoming Prime Minister. Sensing an opportunity, O'Connell whipped up support within the Chamber of Commons to oust the Prime Minister. He impressed many within the party and defeated McCrory in a leadership election by the end of July 1883. O'Connell led the party to an electoral landslide in the 1883 Satavian general election, becoming Prime Minister at age 37.

During his first term as Prime Minister, O'Connell oversaw a large and controversial resettlement process that cleared out many of the slums that had surrounded Port Hope and forced many poor people into workhouses. His policies, however, encouraged economic growth and helped kick-start the Estmerish Miracle. O'Connell would later run for re-election in 1887, and again in 1891, 1895 and 1899, all the while enjoying a vast parliamentary majority in both chambers. Despite winning a four-year mandate to govern in the 1899 general election, O'Connell retired mid-way through his fifth term citing personal reasons. His replacement was Treasurer and close ally Lord Westanquay - who would later fail to win re-election in the 1903 general election, ending Conservative leadership for the first time in twenty years.

O'Connell travelled across much of the world in the early 1900s and would return to Satavia in 1906 to begin teaching at the Royal Naval College, Port Hope. He was knighted by King Edward IV in 1909 and was appointed to the Privy Council of Estmere later that year. In 1911, it was confirmed that O'Connell would replace Charles Kitchener as Governor-General of Satavia at the start of 1912, a position he would hold for just under 15 years.

O'Connell finally retired in 1927, although would later be evacuated aboard HMS Richard X when Nuvanian forces landed and occupied Satavia. Moving to Caldia, O'Connell retired there until 1942, when he returned to Satavia after the National Government agreed to return his estate in Port Edward to him, having seized it in February 1939. O'Connell died of a stroke aged 98 in December 1944 at his estate in Port Edward. He lay in state in St Patrick's Cathedral in Port Hope for three days, before being awarded a full state funeral. It remains the most attended and most expensive state funeral in Satavian history.

Widely considered one of the three 'political giants' of the Dominion, O'Connell remains popular in Satavia, although in recent years he has been criticised for his policies towards natives during a period now known as the Great Shame. In a 2008 poll, he was named 'Satavia's Greatest Satavian', and many parks and public places are named after him.