Arthur O'Connell
Sir Arthur O'Connell MDC, MDNO, MG, ORC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of The Hope Dominion | |
| In office 17th February 1896 – 1st January 1900 | |
| Monarch | Charles II |
| Governor | TBD |
| Preceded by | Derek Maskpin |
| Succeeded by | Himself as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Satavia |
| Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Satavia | |
| In office 1st January 1900 – 18th October 1924 | |
| Monarch | TBD |
| Preceded by | Himself as Prime Minister of the Hope Dominion |
| Succeeded by | Edward Limes |
| Constituency | Member of Parliament for Adamstown West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 11, 1866 Port Hope, Estmerish Hope |
| Died | April 17, 1951 (aged 84) Port Edward, Satavia |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Resting place | St Patrick's Cathedral, Port Hope |
| Nationality | Satavian |
| Political party | Conservative Party |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Spouse | Emily O'Connell |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | University of Montecara |
| Occupation | Admiral |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Estmere (until 1900) Satavia (1900-1935) |
| Branch/service | Royal Estmerish Navy (until 1900) Royal Satavian Navy (1900-1935) |
| Rank | Admiral (1896-1927) Chief of the Royal Satavian Armed Forces (1927-1935) |
| Commands | HMeS Centurion (1891 - 1893) HMeS Port Hope (1893-1896) Hope Division (1896-1907) Royal Satavian Navy (1907-1927) Satavian Armed Forces (1927-1935) |
| Battles/wars | Great War |
Admiral Sir Arthur George Stobart O'Connell, MDC, MDNO, MG, ORC (11 October 1866 - 17 April 1951) was a Satavian naval officer who served as Prime Minister of Satavia from 1896 until 1924, and oversaw the transition of Satavia from Estmerish Rule to an independent kingdom. He also served as 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 Provisional Republican Government of Satavia. He fought in the 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 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. 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.
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 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".
He was criticised in his life time for allowing the establishment of an effective absoloute monarchy, and was also labelled as a "dictator" during certain parts of his premiership.
Early life
Arthur O'Connell was born on the 11 October 1866 in Port Hope. The oldest of four, O'Connell was a quater 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 deckhand at age 15, but only officially joined the Navy at age 17, in 1883.
Career
O'Connell first served as a 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 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, 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 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.
Later that year, O'Connell achieved re-election in the 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
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.
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 fiscal austerity, drastically cutting public spending and even cutting military spending, despite his connection with the military.
O'Connell continued to secure 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 Satavia. The King was exiled, and tried 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 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 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), O'Connell Street, Port Hope, O'Connell Park and O'Connell District, Port Hope.
Awards
- Companion of the Order of Imagua (1948)
- More TBD