Séamus Mac Néill = James McNeill b. 27 Mar 1869, Glenarm, Co. Antrim, Ireland d. 12 Dec 1938, London, England Title: Seanascal Shaorstáit Eireann = Governor-General in and over the Irish Free State Term: 1 Feb 1928 - 1 Nov 1932 Chronology: 16 Dec 1927, appointed by Commission under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet [1] 1 Feb 1928, took an oath of allegiance and an oath of office as Governor-General in and over the Irish Free State, public ceremony, Private Bill Court Room, Leinster House, Dublin [2] 1 Nov 1932, end of term of office set by the Executive Council (approved by King George V on 28 Oct 1932) [2] Names/titles: Last name also spelled in English as MacNeill Biography: James McNeill was educated at Belvedere College, Dublin, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He joined the Indian civil service retiring after a successful career in 1914. He returned to Ireland, where he joined the Sinn Féin party. McNeill was appointed High Commissioner for the Irish Free State in London (4 Jan 1923), a post to which his administrative abilities were well suited, and succeeded T.M.Healy as Governor-General in 1928. When Fianna Fáil came to power in February 1932 under Eamon de Valera it was made clear that McNeill's post was regarded as an objectionable symbol of British monarchy. On 3 Oct 1932 King George V, acting on the advice tendered by the President of the Executive Council, approved McNeill's relinquishing the office of Governor-General and handed him a copy of the relevant document in person. It was followed by the exchange of messages between McNeill and Vice-President of the Executive Council Sean T. O'Kelly; on 6 Oct 1932 O'Kelly informed the Executive Council that McNeill had agreed to vacating the office on 1 Nov 1932. In consequence, on 21 Oct 1932 the President of the Executive Council tendered to the King advice, in writing, to the effect that the relinquishment by McNeill of the office should take place on 1 Nov 1932, and on 28 Oct 1932 the King approved it in writing. Biography source: [2][3] [1] The London Gazette, No. 33339, Tuesday, 20 December, 1927, p. 8140. [2] The Irish Times, Special Extra, Dublin, Thursday, February 2, 1928, vol. LXX, No. 22,087, p. 7. [3] "A Dictionary of Irish Biography", ed. by Henry Boylan (Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1998). Last updated on: 08 Sep 2015 21:00:00