On this St Patrick’s Day, it is perhaps fitting to share the story of one of the most important and accomplished Irish-Americans you may never have heard about, Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced Maar.)

His full story is told in Timothy Egan’s The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero, and a summary of his life is incredible:

• Born on 3 August 1823 in Waterford City to a rich merchant, at age 15 he became the youngest medalist of the Debating Society at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare. These oratory skills would later distinguish Meagher during his years as a leading figure in Irish Nationalism.
• In 1844 he traveled to Dublin with the intention of studying for the bar in order to become a lawyer. He became involved in the Repeal Association, which worked for repeal of the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland.
• His involvement in the Repeal led him to become one of the Young Irelanders, who while pursuing Irish freedom from British oppression, refused to swear off violence as many other Irish groups had.

Be it for the defence, or be it for the assertion of a nation’s liberty, I look upon the sword as a sacred weapon. And if, my lord, it has sometimes reddened the shroud of the oppressor—like the anointed rod of the high priest, it has, as often, blossomed into flowers to deck the freeman’s brow. 

Meagher’s famous “Sword Speech”

• In January 1847, Meagher, together with other Young Irelanders, formed a new repeal body, the Irish Confederation.
• In 1848, Meagher and William Smith O’Brien went to France to study revolutionary events there, and returned to Ireland with the new Flag of Ireland.
• After the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 or “Battle of Ballingarry“, he was arrested, tried and convicted for sedition, which meant being hanged, drawn & quartered. At this trial, his response was another famous speech.

For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To lift this island up—make her a benefactor to humanity, instead of being as she is now, the meanest beggar in the world—to restore to her, her native powers and her ancient constitution—this has been my ambition and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by the law of England, I know this crime entails upon me the penalty of death; but the history of Ireland explains that crime and justifies it.

Meagher’s Speech From the Dock

• However, due to public outcry and international pressure (notably from Irish-Americans), royal clemency commuted the death sentence to Penal exile for life to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania.)
• There, Meagher managed to meet clandestinely with his fellow Irish rebels to continue the struggle and plot escape.
• Escape he did, first sending letter to the authorities, notifying them he would consider himself a free man in twenty-four hours, then fleeing to a waiting ship offshore while being pursued, then traveling to New York City.
• There he studied law and journalism, and became a noted lecturer. Soon after, Meagher became a United States citizen. He eventually founded a weekly newspaper called the Irish News.
• He was commissioned as a captain in the New York State Militia, with the hope of recruiting and training Irish-Americans who might one day return to Ireland to fight for her Freedom.
• When the Civil War broke our he began recruiting men for the Union Army. One of his ads in the New York Daily Tribune read: “One hundred young Irishman—healthy, intelligent and active—wanted at once to form a Company“, the force would become known as 69th Infantry Regiment of the New York State Militia (the “Fighting 69th”)
• The 69th fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, and Meagher returned to New York to form the Irish Brigade and was commissioned a Brigadier General.

It is not only our duty to America, but also to Ireland. We could not hope to succeed in our effort to make Ireland a Republic without the moral and material support of the liberty-loving citizens of these United States.

Meagher On deciding to fight for the Union

• At the Battle of Fair Oaks in May, Meagher first led the Brigade in battle. The Union won a defensive victory, and the Irish Brigade furthered their reputation as fierce fighters.
• Meagher’s troops fought throughout the Civil War – at the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and others, at times suffering huge losses, but never failing to live up to their reputation.
• After the war, Meagher was appointed Secretary of the new Territory of Montana; soon after arriving there, he was designated Acting Governor.
• On July 1st, 1867, while traveling to Fort Benton, Montana, to receive a shipment of guns and ammunition sent by General William Tecumseh Sherman for use by the Montana Militia, Meagher fell overboard from the steamboat G. A. Thompson, into the Missouri River and was presumed dead.

An amazing story for just one lifetime, and so, as you celebrate St Patrick’s Day today, raise a toast to General Meagher – “Éire go brách!” (meaning “Ireland until the end of Time!”)