THE STORY OF
NINE FAMOUS IRISHMEN
In the young Irish disorders, in Ireland in 1848, the following nine men
were captured, tried and convicted of treason against Her Majesty, the
Queen, and were sentenced to death: John Mitchell, Morris Leyne, Pat
Donahue, Thomas McGee, Charles Duffy, Thomas Meagher, Richard O'Gorman,
Terrance McManus, and Michael Ireland.
Before passing sentence, the judge asked if there was anything that anyone
wished to say. Meagher, speaking for all, said, "My Lord, this is our first
offence, but not our last. If you will be easy with us, this once we
promise, on our word as gentlemen, to try to do better next time. And next
time - sure we won't be fools to get caught." Thereupon, the indignant judge
sentenced them all to be hanged by the neck until dead, and drawn and
quartered. Passionate protest from all the world forced Queen Victoria to
commute the sentence to transportation for life to far, wild Australia.
In 1874, word reached an astounded Queen Victoria that the Sir Charles Duffy
who had been elected Prime Minister of Australia, was the same Charles
Duffy who had been transported 25 years before. On the Queen's demand,
the records of the rest of the transported men were revealed and this is
what was uncovered:
Thomas Francis Meagher:
Governor of Montana
Terrance McManus:
Brigadier General, US Army
Patrick Donahue:
Brigadier General, US Army
Morris Leyne:
Attorney General of Australia in which office
Michael Ireland succeeded him.
Richard O'Gorham:
Governor General of Newfoundland
Thomas D'Archy McGee:
Member of Parliament, Montreal, Minister of
Agriculture and President of Council Dominion of Canada.
John Mitchell:
Prominent New York Politician. This man was the
father of John Purroy Mitchell, Mayor of New York at the outbreak of World
War One.
