O'Neill, Terence (1914–1990)

Northern Irish Unionist politician. He was minister of finance 1956–63, then prime minister of Northern Ireland 1963–69. He expounded liberal policies and in 1965 exchanged visits with the Republic of Ireland's Taoiseach (prime minister) Seán Lemass to improve cross‐border relations, but his government achieved little substantial reform. He resigned when opposed by his party on measures to extend rights to Roman Catholics, including a universal franchise in local elections.

O'Neill was born in London into a wealthy Anglo‐Irish family. He was sent to Eton public school, then entered the Irish Guards, serving as a captain in World War II. He was a Unionist member of parliament at Stormont (the Northern Ireland parliament) from 1946–70 and was made a life peer in 1970.