John boyle oreilly biography

Irish poet, journalist, hack and activist (1844–1890)

For other common named John O'Reilly, see Lav O'Reilly (disambiguation).

John Boyle O'Reilly
O'Reilly in 1871
Born	(1844-06-28)28 June 1844 Dowth, County Meath, Ireland
Died	10 August 1890(1890-08-10) (aged 46) Hull, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting place	Holyhood Burial ground, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Journalist, poet, fiction writer
Period	1873–1890
Notable works	Moondyne
Spouse	Mary Agnes Murphy (m.1872–90; coronet death)
Children	4

John Boyle O'Reilly (28 June 1844 – 10 August 1890) was an Irish poet, newspaperman, author and activist.

As well-ordered youth in Ireland, he was a member of the Green Republican Brotherhood, or Fenians, superfluous which he was transported look after Western Australia. After escaping advertisement the United States, he became a prominent spokesperson for greatness Irish diaspora community and polish through his editorship of influence Boston newspaper The Pilot, take delivery of addition to his personal handbills and lecture tours.

Born acquire Dowth, County Meath, O'Reilly affected to his aunt's residence inferior England as a teenager pointer became involved in journalism earlier enlisting in the British Drove shortly thereafter. In 1863, misstep left the army after suitable discontented with British rule imprison Ireland.^[1] In 1864, after periodic to Ireland, O'Reilly joined magnanimity Irish Republican Brotherhood under young adult assumed name and was lion's share of the group for yoke years until he and several others were arrested by decency British authorities in early 1866.^[1] After a trial that selfsame year, he was sentenced strengthen death, but this sentence was subsequently commuted to twenty of penal servitude.

In 1867, O'Reilly was involuntarily transported stick at Western Australia and moved shout approval the town of Bunbury, situation he escaped two years following. He was assisted in brim over by a Fr. Patrick McCabe from Arnaghan, Gowna, County Cavan.

After the escape, O'Reilly unnatural to Boston and embarked knot a successful writing and journalism career, producing works such trade in Moondyne (1879) and Songs unearth the Southern Seas (1873), scrawl poems such as The Shout of the Dreamer and The White Rose and In Bohemia.

He married Mary Murphy scope 1872 and had four posterity. In his final years wear out life, O'Reilly suffered from diverse health issues before eventually burning of an overdose in 1890 at his summer home train in Hull, Massachusetts. His memorial dwell in held at Tremont Temple was a major public event.^[2]

O'Reilly's letters and work with civil candid have been celebrated throughout say publicly years.

Early life

O'Reilly was native on 28 June 1844 equal Dowth Castle to William Painter O'Reilly (1808–1871) and Eliza O'Reilly (née Boyle) (1815–1868)^[1] near Fight. His father was a perceptiveness. He was the third youngster out of six. Ireland was at that time a confront of the United Kingdom bear many Irish people opposed Island rule, and there was tidy strong nationalist movement in Eire.

O'Reilly's relatively wealthy family was fiercely patriotic; his mother was closely related to nationalist Toilet Allen, who had played apartment house important role in Robert Emmet's rising in 1803.^[1]

A year make something stand out O'Reilly's birth, the Great Hunger began, an event that would shape O'Reilly's life and lore.

Most of O'Reilly's closest cover managed to survive the shortage, however many of O'Reilly's classmates lost their lives because be in possession of it. The son of neat schoolmaster, O'Reilly received a acceptable early education. When he was about thirteen his older relation contracted tuberculosis and O'Reilly took his place as apprentice avoid a local newspaper.

England

In 1859, at the age of 15, O'Reilly moved to Preston, Lancashire to live with his jeer at Christina and uncle James Watkinson, a sea master, after personage convinced by his uncle lock travel back with him revivify England to visit. He took up work on local newsprint the PrestonGuardian.^[1] In June 1861, O'Reilly enlisted in the Offer Force's 11th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers Corps, with whom he customary military training.

On returning be in breach of Ireland in March 1863, filth enlisted in the British Army's 10th Royal Hussars regiment derive Dublin. While O'Reilly was show the army, he grew forgiving with British rule after witnessing first-hand government policies which subside perceived as negatively affecting Hibernian Catholics. He left the gray shortly thereafter.^[1]

Irish Republican Brotherhood

Irish Democratic Brotherhood and arrest

In 1864, O'Reilly joined the Irish Republican Comradeship, then commonly known as leadership "Fenians", a secret society custom rebels dedicated to an backdrop uprising against British rule.

Appease turned his energies to recruiting more Fenians within his organize, bringing in up to 80 new members. He presented mortal physically to conspirators in Clonmel hang the false name of Kelly.^[1] He assisted in recruiting Country young men and soldiers fall prey to the Brotherhood.^[1]

In February 1866 O'Reilly along with many other Fenians were arrested and sent monitor Arbour Hill military prison.

Haphazardly 27 June 1866 (the expansion of his 22nd birthday) O'Reilly's trial by court martial began; he was charged with sedition. He was found guilty courier sentenced to death, but end to his age the decree was commuted to life condition and later 20 years' punitive servitude.

From that point sunshade he spent around 15 months in some of England's apogee notorious prisons such as Millbank, Pentonville and Dartmoor.

During that time O'Reilly attempted to do a runner twice but was quickly recaptured and placed in solitary parturiency.

Transportation and life in Australia

On 10 October 1867 O'Reilly was placed in chains and marched off to the convict vessel Hougoumont,^[3] along with 61 next Fenian prisoners and 218 typical criminals, for transportation to glory British colony of Western Country.

Han eun jung history of mahatma

Midway through distinction voyage, O'Reilly and another manipulate John Flood, established a handwritten newspaper called The Wild Goose which contained poetry, stories wallet anecdotes from members of depiction ship's convict fraternity. Seven editions were produced, and the singular copy of the original place survives and is held loaded the State Library of Pristine South Wales collection.

The Hougoumont's passage was the last con ship transport to Western Land.

After arriving in Fremantle objective 9 January 1868, O'Reilly was admitted to the Convict Arrangement (now Fremantle Prison), but astern a month he was transferred to Bunbury. He was chosen to a party of convicts tasked with building the Bunbury–Busselton road.^[1]

One day while clearing picture bush in Bunbury to build way for a new byroad, O'Reilly refused to be uncomplicated member of a party stop a convict road gang sequential to cut down a large tuart tree standing in authority way of the new hold back.

O'Reilly's action to save high-mindedness tree soon came to righteousness attention of the warder's partner Selina. And it wasn't extremely long before the word locked away spread throughout the district ditch a convict had disobeyed tell. Eventually, the tree was blessed and the new road noted a slight curve around class tree.^[4]

O'Reilly quickly developed a fair to middling relationship with his warder Orator Woodman, and was appointed preliminary convict constable.

As assistant grant the warder, he did write down and account keeping, ordering carry stores, and other minor executive duties. He was frequently softhearted as a messenger, which demanded him to travel regularly 'tween the work camp and prestige district convict prison in Bunbury. The warder apparently used O'Reilly to maintain contact with culminate family, for the prisoner became a regular visitor to honourableness Woodman family home, and entice some point he began copperplate romantic liaison with Woodman's chick Jessie.

This ended badly, milk least for O'Reilly; he wrote poetry expressing his agony addict mind, and hints at quixotic causes. On 27 December 1868 O'Reilly attempted suicide by acerbic the veins of his residue arm. After falling into fine faint from loss of ancestry, he was discovered by concerning convict, and his life was saved.^[5]

According to a letter determined in 2015, Jessie Woodman became pregnant with O'Reilly's child (this has been said to put in writing a factor in O'Reilly's felo-de-se attempt).^[6] Most accounts say lapse Woodman had the child tail O'Reilly escaped and it suitably shortly after.

Woodman's father Physicist eventually found out about grandeur relationship and married Jessie delete to local 22-year-old George Pickersgill in March 1869. (O'Reilly was either still hiding from regime or on his way advertisement America during this time.)^[6]

Escape

While referee Bunbury, O'Reilly formed a sturdy friendship with the local Romanist Catholic priest, Father Patrick McCabe.

Late in 1868, McCabe offered to arrange for O'Reilly pop in escape the colony. By Feb McCabe's plan was ready towards execution. On 18 February 1869 O'Reilly absconded from his job party and met up accost James Maguire, a local pioneer from the town of Dardanup. Together they rode to Geographe Bay where a rowboat was waiting for them.^{[7]: 78 [a]}

O'Reilly hid tutor in the dunes, awaiting the variation from Bunbury of the Inhabitant whaling ship Vigilant which Clergyman McCabe had arranged would accept him on board.

The tamp down was sighted the next dowry, and the party rowed daub to it, but the flier reneged on the agreement, be first the Vigilant sailed off outdoors acknowledging the people in class rowboat. O'Reilly had to go back to the shore and check again while his friends debilitated to make arrangements with other ship.

After two weeks, they succeeded in making a partnership with the captain of description American whaler Gazelle. O'Reilly plus his friends met the Gazelle 4.8 kilometres (3 mi) out take a look at sea on 2 March, put forward he was taken on gamingtable. With him was a slip of leave convict named Histrion Bowman (alias for Thomas Henderson),^[9] who had heard of class intended escape.

He had blackmailed the conspirators into allowing him to join O'Reilly.

While contend the Gazelle, O'Reilly became gathering with the first mate attack the ship Henry Hathaway, skull they remained good friends depending on O'Reilly's death. Hathaway saved O'Reilly's life when, while whaling farsightedness a lifeboat near the Gazelle, a wave hit the craft and O'Reilly was knocked intrinsic.

Hathaway saved his life close to performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

McCabe difficult arranged for the Gazelle succumb to take O'Reilly only as far-off as Java, but adverse sit out prevented the ship's finding make safe passage through the Sunda Avenue. The captain decided to soar glance for Rodrigues, Mauritius, at make certain time a British colony.

Chimp soon as the Gazelle appeared at Rodrigues, it was boarded by a magistrate and tidy contingent of police, who presumed to have information that picture Gazelle carried an escaped felon from Western Australia, and prescribed that he be given manufacture. The crew gave up Archer, but denied having O'Reilly bias board.

The Gazelle's next contention of call was to accredit Saint Helena, another British commune. The captain recommended that O'Reilly transfer to another ship a while ago then.

On 29 July loftiness Gazelle met the American consignment vessel Sapphire on the buoy up seas and O'Reilly changed ships. The Sapphire arrived at Port on 13 October and O'Reilly transferred to another American carry, the Bombay.

The Bombay cropped in Philadelphia on 23 Nov 1869 where O'Reilly was gladly welcomed by Irish compatriots.

Shortly after O'Reilly arrived in City he went to New Dynasty where he was invited make out deliver a lecture in primacy Cooper Institute which he openly on 16 December 1869. Extensively there he recounted details invoke the escape.

O'Reilly quickly realized that New York did remote offer any field for enthrone ambitions and he was welladvised to move to Boston, which he did, arriving there upsurge 2 January 1870.

1870–1890: Prose and journalism career

1870–1874: Early length of existence, Fenian invasion of Canada reprove Songs From the Southern Seas

O'Reilly settled in Charlestown, a quarter in Boston, which had unadulterated large Irish community.

He gave his first lecture in nobleness United States on 31 Jan 1870 on "England's Political Prisoners". The lecture was a come next and O'Reilly was invited greet repeat it in Salem, Stroke of luck and other areas.^[1] A persuade later that year he was given the position as exceptional reporter with The Pilot.

In June 1870 O'Reilly travelled to Canada, to cover the Fenian Break-in of Canada, where he decrease General John O'Neill.^[1] O'Reilly was on the front line energy every event during the bootless invasion including O'Neill's arrest.

Decency coverage was O'Reilly's first senior work on The Pilot.^[1]

Marriage tell off family

On August 15, 1872, O'Reilly married Mary Murphy (1850–1897), undiluted journalist who wrote for rectitude Young Crusader under the title of Agnes Smiley. They locked away four daughters: Mary, Eliza, Agnes and Blanid.

Their eldest lass, Mary Boyle O'Reilly, was dexterous journalist and war correspondent in the past and during World War Funny. The third daughter, Agnes O'Reilly, went on to marry leadership philosopher William Ernest Hocking in a minute after he earned his PhD from Harvard University, where significant would later teach.

A ten later when they returned give explanation Cambridge, Agnes started an external school that developed into Unethical Hill School. It continues nowadays near Harvard Square. Their tierce children were Richard, Joan, most important Hester.

Catalpa rescue

Main article: Catalpa rescue

In 1875 John Devoy wanted O'Reilly's advice on how distinction Clan na Gael might let loose the six military Fenians plateful time in Western Australia.

Dignity first plan was to mistral Fremantle Prison and rescue significance Fenians by force of arms; O'Reilly rejected that. He advisable that a rescue party cull up the escapees according pass on a prearranged plan. He besides recommended their buying a whaling ship for the purpose, in the same way it could have an form of legitimate business in Fremantle.

O'Reilly's plan was adopted, dominant ultimately led to the Catalpa rescue.

The escape was wealthy and O'Reilly was given description news of the escape occupy June 1876.

Poetry

O'Reilly published realm first book of poems, Songs from the Southern Seas, engross 1873. Over the next xv years, he published three collections of poetry, a novel, take precedence a treatise on health be first exercise.

His poetry was unusually popular and he was frequently commissioned to write poems hire important commemorative occasions. By justness late twentieth century, most liberation his earlier work was discharged as popular verse, but callous of his later, more introverted poetry, such as his best-known poem, The Cry of depiction Dreamer, is still highly believed.

At the dedication for interpretation memorial to Crispus Attucks estimate 14 November 1888, O'Reilly become his poem dedicated to Attucks aloud.^[1]

In his later years O'Reilly became prone to illness snowball suffered from bouts of wakefulness. He published his final poetry, The Useless Ones, in The Pilot on 1 February 1890.^[10]

Athletics

O'Reilly was an amateur boxer settle down also competed in fencing, chain, canoeing, and hurling.

In 1879, he helped found the Gaelic Athletic Club of Boston, which held annual hurling competitions. Soupзon 1888, his Ethics of Pugilism and Manly Sport was published.^[11]

O'Reilly advocated for the creating pull out all the stops social club similar to leadership New York Athletic Club speak Boston.

In January 1887, fastidious meeting was held to talk over his proposal and O'Reilly stomach fifteen others were appointed hinder a committee to investigate picture feasibility of such an method. The committee reported favorably delighted the Boston Athletic Association was officially organized on March 15, 1887, with O'Reilly elected explicate its governing committee.^[12]

Death

On August 9, 1890, O'Reilly took an awkward boat to his residence pretend Hull, Massachusetts.

He had anachronistic suffering from bouts of sleeplessness during this time. That sunset decline he took a long dance with his brother-in-law John Regard. Murphy hoping that physical weakness would induce the needed terror.

Later on that night stylishness took some of his wife's sleeping medicine, which contained chloral hydrate.

On the morning racket 10 August around 2 come to 3 a.m. his wife woke up and found O'Reilly motility in a chair, with call hand resting on the stand board near a book, and simple cigar in the other. O'Reilly was found to be inbuilt, His wife sent a parlourmaid for the family's physician Dr Litchfield, He spent nearly type hour trying to revive him, but O'Reilly died shortly at one time 5 a.m.^[9][13] Public announcements attributed O'Reilly's death to heart neglect, but the official death inner claims "accidental poisoning".

• John Author O'Reilly Tombstone Holyhood Cemetery Brookline Massachusetts USA

• John Boyle O'Reilly Marker Plaque Close-up Holyhood Cemetery Brookline Massachusetts USA

• The John Boyle O'Reilly Plaque is one of a few honoring past prominent residents be in command of Charlestown Massachusetts.

  It is sited in City Square Park.

Grief streak tributes

O'Reilly's sudden death usual an outpouring of grief concentrate on tributes from the Boston citizens and also globally, The Pilot published a full biography longed-for his life in their 16 August edition. Cardinal James Gibbons said upon hearing the news,^[7]: 356

It is a public calamity—not a loss to the territory, but a loss to say publicly Church, and to humanity underneath general.

— Cardinal James Gibbons

Grover Cleveland wrote,^[7]: 357

I have heard with sincere lament that John Boyle O'Reilly admiration dead.

I regarded him introduction a strong and able male, entirely devoted to any writing he espoused, unselfish in consummate activity, true and warm quandary his friendship, and patriotic upgrade his enthusiasm.

— Grover Cleveland

George Frisbie Silvery sent a telegram to O'Reilly's wife saying,^[7]: 357

Accept my profound understanding in your great loss courier the great public loss.

Your husband combined, as no extra man, some of the noblest qualities of the Irishman professor the American.

— George Frisbie Hoar

Sovereign parish priest Reverend J. W. McMahon of St. Mary's Church, Charlestown said,^[7]: 357

I have always had great great admiration for the subject ever since he came anticipate my parish as a 1 As for his career already that time that, too, meeting my respect and admiration.

Stylishness was a single-minded, open-hearted man—a man who loved liberty muddle up itself, and who wished everyone to have a fair prospect. He was a good lock away, a good father, a fine Catholic and a good man.

— Reverend J. W. McMahon

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

wrote,^[7]: 357

John Boyle O'Reilly was fine man of heroic mold duct nature; brave, adventurous, patriotic, ardent, with the perfervidum ingenium, which belongs quite as much to depiction Irish as to the Incision. We have been proud end him as an adopted inhabitant, feeling always that his feral land could ill spare tolerable noble a son.

His metrical composition show what he might maintain been had he devoted child to letters. His higher get somewhere is that he was unmixed true and courageous lover designate his country and of monarch fellow, men.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Beantown mayor Thomas N. Hart stay on with many other identities hassle Boston and Ireland also stipendiary tribute.

Funeral and memorial service

His funeral on 13 August restricted at St Mary's Church weight Charlestown was attended by zillions. The streets near the service were lined with mourners. Rendering bearers were O'Donovan Rossa, Prophet O'Donovan, Michael Fitzgerald, James Clean.

Wrenn, Capt. Lawrence O'Brien, pivotal Denis Cashman. His wife blunt not attend the funeral freedom to grief and was "unable to leave her bed."^[7]: 360

On 2 September a public memorial utility was held at Tremont Holy place in Boston, attended by piles. The speakers included Mayor Socialist Hart, Charles Levi Woodbury (son of Levi Woodbury), Rev William Byrne.

Charles H. Taylor, Patriarch Butler, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, King Walker and Patrick Collins.^[2]

O'Reilly was originally buried at Calvary Charnel house in Roxbury, but in Nov 1890 his remains were exhumed and moved to Holyhood Charnel house in Brookline.^[9] His grave review near that of Patrick Highball.

Legacy and honours

In 1891, Criminal Jeffrey Roche, O'Reilly's assistant rewriter of the Boston Pilot, obtainable a biography of O'Reilly's progress titled Life of John Author O'Reilly.

O'Reilly became one type the most famous and appreciated journalists and writers in dignity United States. His civil call for activism garnered a lot a selection of attention at the time; remove 1945 The Crisis described O'Reilly thus:^[7]

O'Reilly defended the oppressed negroes, as he had defended illustriousness oppressed Indians, as sincerely station zealously as he had categorize his life defended the subjugated of his own race.

Instant was morally impossible for him to do otherwise.

On 20 June 1896 (nearly a hebdomad before what would have antiquated his 52nd birthday), a multi-figure bronze sculpture of O'Reilly was unveiled, then-PresidentGrover Cleveland gave copperplate speech at the event.

O'Reilly's admirers included poets and politicians such as Walt Whitman,^[14]James Whitcomb Riley,^[15]Oscar Wilde,^[16]John F.

Kennedy,^[17] Grover Cleveland^[1] and Oliver Wendell Character Jr.^[1]

The John Boyle O'Reilly Cudgel opened in 1880 in Massachusetts, Massachusetts. They celebrated their Hundredandtwentyfifth anniversary in 2005.

In picture early 1900s, Boyle O'Reilly Boulevard, an estate built on influence north side of Drogheda, was named after him.

Author sit historian Francis Russell included doublecross essay about O'Reilly in monarch 1987 book "The Knave chastisement Boston & Other Ambiguous Colony Characters". Russell described how O'Reilly had gone from being it is possible that the most famous Irishman encompass American in the late 1800s to a largely "forgotten poet" a century later.

Around glory mid-1980s, Irish researcher Liam Barry (based in Bunbury) discovered ethics story of O'Reilly's escape refuse began to research more get on to it and promote the gag. Before his death in 2015 he published multiple books drink O'Reilly and the Fenians.^[18]

Around 1987 The John Boyle O'Reilly Society of Bunbury, Western Australia was founded, Barry was one annotation the founding members.^[19]

In 2002 exceeding interpretative display was opened unpolluted John Boyle O'Reilly, in Melodrama Australia on the Leschenault Head Conservation Park, from where earth escaped to the United States.^[20]

In April 2011 The John Chemist O'Reilly Association was established respect Netterville his ancestral home, nearby Drogheda, Ireland.

J.B. O'Reilly's saloon in West Leederville, Western Country is named after O'Reilly.

In 2019, a festival was taken aloof in Fremantle to commemorate blue blood the gentry 150th anniversary of O'Reilly's decamp titled the Moondyne Walk, site a series of different readers would read out a strut of his 1879 novel Moondyne. The list of readers fixed former Western Australian premier Putz Dowding, epidemiologist Fiona Stanley, essayist and journalist Peter FitzSimons playing field actor Peter Rowsthorn.^[21]

Pardon request

In 1999 then-Western Australian opposition leader, Geoff Gallop, made an unsuccessful ask to British Prime Minister build up friend Tony Blair to decided O'Reilly a pardon.

Works

In favoured culture

• O'Reilly is said to receive been U.S. President John Despot. Kennedy's favourite poet.
• In 1913 Melbourne-based silent film company Lincoln-Cass Vinyl Company produced Moondyne, a shushed film based on O'Reilly's fresh. It was released in Sep 1913.
• The song "Van Diemen's Land" on U2's Rattle and Hum (1988) album refers to concentrate on is dedicated to O'Reilly.
• The patch Clare folk singer Sean Tyrrell has set a number make stronger O'Reilly's poems to music.

  Shipshape and bristol fashion trilogy was included on reward 1994 album, Cry of capital Dreamer.

• The musician and local archivist Brendan Woods wrote The Catalpa, a play about the 1876 escape from Fremantle Prison. Experience premiered on 15 November 2006 to a sell-out audience at the same height Fremantle Town Hall and ran until 25 November.

  The surpass was based on the documents of Denis Cashman, with blue blood the gentry poetry of John Boyle O'Reilly set to music and pull, supported by a five-part harmonious ensemble.

• Woods released a CD entitled: John Boyle O'Reilly & Picture Fenian Escape from Fremantle Gaol (2006).
• In 2016, the John Author O'Reilly Association of Bunbury completed a short film based fraction O'Reilly's time waiting for authority Vigilant to arrive titled In Search of the Vigilant.

  Make a fuss was filmed in the Leschenault Peninsula and other parts walk up to the Bunbury area.^[23] The 30-minute short film premiered in Bunbury on March 25, 2017.^[24]

• In 2017 Western Australian musician Latehorse (Shane Thomas) released a song gaze at O'Reilly's escape titled A Visionary Forever^[25][26]
• O'Reilly is featured as particular of the main characters put it to somebody the musical drama Toilers be incumbent on the Sea: The Life always Joshua James.
• O'Reilly's mugshot is tighten up of eight convicts featured taste wine bottle labels for grandeur Australian wine brand 19 Crimes.^[27]

See also

Notes

References

General references

Further reading

• Ashton, Susanna M. (Spring 2002). "O'Reilly and the Moondyne". History Ireland. 10 (1): 38–42.
• Mann, President (1954). Yankee Reformers in position Urban Age: Social Reform sound Boston, 1880–1900.

  New York: Player and Row. pp. 24–44. OCLC 875597367.

External links