SNIPPET: Born to a conservative Waterford merchant and mayor, Thomas Francis MEAGHER joined Daniel O'CONNELL's nonviolent movement to repeal the Act of Union with Britain. Impatient with the slow-moving peace process, he joined the radical Young Irelander movement and became an inspiring speaker. His attack on Daniel O'CONNELL's peace resolutions in 1846 earned him the title 'Meagher of the Sword." He went to France in 1848 and came back with the first Irish tricolor flag - a gift from the French representing the Catholics (green), the Protestants (orange), and peaceful co-existence between them (white). Involved in a failed uprising, MEAGHER was sentenced to death, but he managed to get his sentence commuted to life in prison in Tasmania, Australia. MEAGHER escaped in 1852 and sailed to America. He became a journalist in NY, studied law and eventually became a lawyer, founded the "Irish News" in 1856. After he made a trip to Nicaragua to study the feasibility of building a canal across the isthmus, the American Civil War broke out. Famous for his oratory, he issued an inspiring call to the American Irish to fight for the Union, linking the effort to the cause of Irish freedom: "The Republic, that gave us asylum and an honorable career -- that is the mainstay of human freedom the world over -- is threatened with disruption. It is the duty of every liberty-loving citizen to prevent such a calamity at all hazards. Above all, it is the duty of us Irish citizens, who aspired to establish a similar form of government in our native land. It is not only our duty to America, but to in Ireland." MEAGHER was made a general and raised a regiment of Irish immigrants that he famously led into battle for the Union. He hoped that the Irish Brigade's distinguished performance would raise the low standing of the Irish in American eyes and provide experienced recruits to a future Fenian uprising in Ireland. The Brigade engaged in some of the most savage hand-to-hand fighting of the war. While these battles gained the nation's respect, they also resulted in horrific casualty rates. After the war, he became the first governor of the MT territory. Not long afterward, the 44-year-old MEAGHER fell off a riverboat at night and drowned in the Missouri. His body was never found.

Hi Jean, Thank you again for you dedication for providing us with wonderful bits of Irish history. Many American baby boys of Irish descent were named Thomas Francis Meagher after Thomas Francis Meagher . My Uncle who was born in Anaconda, Montana in 1907 was named Thomas Francis Meagher Smith. Several years ago I was looking up Smiths in Florida phone directories and could not believe how many Smiths had named their sons Thomas Francis Meagher Smith. Beannachtai, Margaret (Máiread) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 4:54 PM Subject: [IGW] Thomas F. MEAGHER (1823-67) - Waterford City's FavoriteSon/Founder Union's "Irish Brigade" (ACW) > SNIPPET: Born to a conservative Waterford merchant and mayor, Thomas > Francis MEAGHER joined Daniel O'CONNELL's nonviolent movement to repeal > the Act of Union with Britain. Impatient with the slow-moving peace > process, he joined the radical Young Irelander movement and became an > inspiring speaker. His attack on Daniel O'CONNELL's peace resolutions in > 1846 earned him the title 'Meagher of the Sword." He went to France in > 1848 and came back with the first Irish tricolor flag - a gift from the > French representing the Catholics (green), the Protestants (orange), and > peaceful co-existence between them (white). Involved in a failed > uprising, MEAGHER was sentenced to death, but he managed to get his > sentence commuted to life in prison in Tasmania, Australia. MEAGHER > escaped in 1852 and sailed to America. He became a journalist in NY, > studied law and eventually became a lawyer, founded the "Irish News" in > 1856. After he made a trip to Nicaragua to study the feasibility of bu! > ilding a canal across the isthmus, the American Civil War broke out. > Famous for his oratory, he issued an inspiring call to the American Irish > to fight for the Union, linking the effort to the cause of Irish freedom: > "The Republic, that gave us asylum and an honorable career -- that is the > mainstay of human freedom the world over -- is threatened with disruption. > It is the duty of every liberty-loving citizen to prevent such a calamity > at all hazards. Above all, it is the duty of us Irish citizens, who > aspired to establish a similar form of government in our native land. It > is not only our duty to America, but to in Ireland." MEAGHER was made a > general and raised a regiment of Irish immigrants that he famously led > into battle for the Union. He hoped that the Irish Brigade's > distinguished performance would raise the low standing of the Irish in > American eyes and provide experienced recruits to a future Fenian uprising > in Ireland. The Brigade engaged in some of the ! > most savage hand-to-hand fighting of the war. While these battles gai > ned the nation's respect, they also resulted in horrific casualty rates. > After the war, he became the first governor of the MT territory. Not long > afterward, the 44-year-old MEAGHER fell off a riverboat at night and > drowned in the Missouri. His body was never found. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >