3 s. late georgian ireland 1798 and union
TRANSCRIPT
Progress of a FamilyCarbury Castle
• Motte built by Meiler FitzHenry who was granted the area by Strongbow
• Native Irish in the 15th C.
• ~1515 Colley & family goes to Ireland as civil servant or soldier under Henry VIII
• 1588 granted to Colley family
Colley Family
• Richard Colley (1690-1758)
– Becomes Richard Wesley when his cousin Garrett Wesley dies without issue
• Inherits Dangan Castle
Wesley family
• Garret Wesley [Wellesley] (1735-1781)
– 1760 First Viscount Wellesley of Dangan and first earl of Mornington
– Summer town house in Merrion Square
– 1764 First doctor of Music from Trinity
• Arthur Wellesley (1769–1852)
– 1814 duke of Wellington
Defining Ireland
• Conflicts between English and Irish parliaments
• George Lucas
• Money Bills
• Undertakers
Control of government
Three parties
• The Castle – residence of the Lord Lieutenant and hence seat of the English presence
• The ‘Undertakers’
• Irish Parliament
Undertakers
A group of Irish politicians who agreed to promote (English) administration policies in return for some influence and patronage
– Government by an oligarchy
–Absence of lord lieutenant when parliament was not in session gives powers to Lords Justices
Dr. Charles Lucas
• Descendant of a Cromwelliansoldier
• Apothecary
• Reprehensive of barber-surgeons on Dublin Corporation
Lucas
• Attack power of government chosen alderman
• Blocked by the alderman he used the media to publicize abuses of power; expanded to attack ‘undertakers’
• 1749 Declared an enemy and exiled
• 1760 Returns on accession of George III
• Achieves 8 year election cycle
Money Bill Dispute (1753-6)
• Control by Parliament of money for Crown
• Conflict of personality and power between The Castle, the primate of Ireland and leading families
– Henry Boyle, speaker of the House of Commons
– John Ponsonby, his successor
Britain – A Change in Viewpoint
• 1766 James Francis Edward Stuart dies
– Pope recognizes Hanover dynasty
• Demands and powers of ‘undertakers’ considered excessive
– Seek more direct control of Irish parliament
New leaders Emerge
• Henry Flood
– First elected in 1759; works for shortening of the duration of parliament ; reduction of the pension list; establishment of a national militia, and complete legislative independence of the Irish parliament.
– 1775 Deserts cause; accepts a seat on the Privy Council of Ireland and the office of vice-treasurer
England Attempts to Assert Control
• Viscount George Townshend (1724-1807), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1767–1772)
• Resident in Ireland
– Rival ‘undertakers’ for control of patronage
• Increase standing army in Ireland
• Taxes on absentees, stamp tax
Ireland and Revolution
• 1771 Franklin scouts mutual interests– Recommends exception to non-importation policy
– Apology and offer of haven
• 1775 Amendment to Parliament's address to the throne– Advocate "conciliatory and healing measures for
the removal of the discontent which prevails in the colonies.”
– Defeated 92-52 (300 members)
Irish Volunteers
• 1778 Replacement for regulars transferred to colonies
• Many with liberal views
– Agitation for free trade
– Agitation for local governance
– Grow to 60,000 by 1782
• 1793 Disbanded when England declares war on revolutionary France
1783 Greater Independence
• Repeal of 1719 Declaratory Act that declared that Ireland was subordinate to Britain and its King, Privy Council and Parliament
• Repeal of Poynings’ law allows Irish Parliament to initiate legislation
1793 Catholic Relief Acts
• Remove penalties for
– Being a priest, Catholic education, building churches
• Permitted
– Practicing law
– Entering Trinity
– Join the military; keep arms under some condtions
– Vote
Theobold Wolf Tone
• Government as a trust, with power ultimately lying with the people
• He and William Drennanproposed founding resolutions for the Society of United Irishmen– Separation from England
– Religious tolerance including Catholic emancipation
1798 Events
February Leinster Provincial Directory of the United Irishmen declares that it will not be diverted from its purpose by "anything that could be done in parliament”.
March Arrest of members of United Irishmen; martial law
April Disarming of potential rebels
May Rebel victory at Battle of ProsperousWexford rebel victory at the Battle of Three Rocks
1798 Events -June
Munro and the insurgents are defeated at the Battle of Ballinahinch, Co. Down – ending the rebellion in Ulster.
Massacre of 200 people, mainly Protestants in a barn by rebels at Scullabogue, Co. Wexford
Defeat of rebels at Vinegar Hill John Kelly killed.Lord Edward Fitzgerald dies of wounds.
Cornwallis made Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief
1798 Events
July end of rebellion in Wexford
August Franco-Irish landing and vicotry at Castlebar
September French surrender
October-November Capture of French shipsArrest and suicide of Wolfe Tone