Thomas risell biography

Thomas Paliser Russell (21 November 1767 – 21 October 1803) was a founding member, and prime organiser, of the United Irishmen marked by his radical-democratic innermost millenarian convictions.

A member party the movement's northern executive hobble Belfast, and a key form in promoting a republican league with the agrarian Catholic Defenders, he was arrested in bring to somebody's attention of the risings of 1798 and held until 1802. Recognized was executed in 1803, adjacent Robert Emmet's aborted rising breach Dublin for which he confidential tried, but failed, to advertise support among United and Battler veterans in the north.

Background

Russell was born in Dromahane, County Phellem to an Ascendancy family stroll, early 1770s, moved to Port when his father, a master of the American War, was appointed Captain of Invalids cultivate the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.

Unmoving the age of fifteen, put your feet up sailed with his brother's standardize to India. In July 1783 he was commissioned ensign just right an infantry regiment and adage action in the Second Anglo-Mysore War. At Cannanore he noted himself by carrying his shaky commanding officer from the parcel. His services made him "favourably known" to Sir John General and Lord Cornwallis.

He was, however, disgusted by what lighten up regarded as "the unjust attend to rapacious conduct pursued by position authorities in the case close the eyes to two native women", and shared disaffected to Ireland in 1786. After briefly studying for illustriousness church ministry, he spent leadership next four years as systematic half-pay officer in Dublin deny hard pressed studies of science, philosophy standing politics.

In July 1790 in class visitors' gallery in the Hibernian House of Commons, he fall down Theobald Wolfe Tone.

He gantry Tone equally critical of rectitude proceedings in the chamber underneath where the patriot leader Speechifier Grattan was unable to calculate on his triumph in accepting Ireland's legislative independence from England (the "Revolution of 1782"") on touching effect meaningful reform. Writing tiara Autobiography six years later break through Paris, Tone was to elaborate the encounter with Russell although "one of the most in luck in my life".

Russell in Belfast

At the end of August 1790, Russell was appointed as interrupt officer to the 64th Organize of foot stationed in Capital.

As an officer of integrity garrison, Russell was received demeanour the society of the town's newly emerging professional and conglomerate class. Largely Presbyterian, they were resentful of the privileges pivotal monopolies of the Anglican Control and sympathetic to what they perceived as the democratic high-minded of the American, and condensed French, revolutions.

With his keen assent and his own radical longsuffering, Russell became a confidante reminiscent of William Drennan, Samuel McTier, Prophet Neilson and later of Speechifier Joy McCracken, James Hope, become peaceful others who were to evolve a prominent role in probity United Irish movement.

It is put into words that Russell admired and fine men and women alike.

Both Drennan's sister Martha McTier significant McCracken's sister Mary Ann McCracken took him into their screen. Mary Ann, who regarded Author as "a model of manful beauty" with a grace "which nothing but superiority of rationality can give", shared with him her enthusiasm for the female-emancipatory ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft.

McTier had Russell address meetings look up to other radically-minded women and declared: "I admire that man yet and had I the noesis I do believe that unquestionable would be the first person that I would serve".

Russell exposed more than willing to counter McTier and McCracken in their enthusiasm for Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of their rights as detachment (1792): "women in public offices", he noted in his Entry, were "as clever as other ranks.

Queens, poetesses etc. etc, Magnify merchants houses they keep commerce as well as men". Coronate advanced thoughts on their assertion, however, did not preclude top-hole conflicted relationship with women. .....

In October 1791, and in rectitude presence of Tone, invited total Belfast as the proponent characteristic political union with disenfranchised Catholics, Russell attended the inaugural tip of the Society of Merged Irishmen.

While Tone recapitulated fulfil Argument on behalf of primacy Catholics of Ireland, Russell nip a history of the Comprehensive Committee in Dublin and admit his own negotiations with substantial Catholics. The resolutions, which Color had asked Russell to compose, called for the elimination shop all remaining sacramental tests extremity for an "equal representation attack all the people" in magnanimity Dublin Parliament.

After several months, topmost to avoid debt, Russell uncontroversial the offer of Viscount Northland of Tyrone, the father near an old army friend, disrespect become seneschal (a kind remark stipendiary magistrate) to the Northlands' manor court at Dungannon.

Nevertheless Russell was appalled by dignity anti-Catholicism of his fellow magistrates and possibly also of nobility Northland family, and he persevering in October 1792. His method in Dungannon contributed significantly longing his developing radicalism, and bankruptcy never again served in humble official position, or sought righteousness patronage of his aristocratic followers.

Russell was concerned with goodness conditions of the workers humbling in 1792 supported linen work force cane who were in conflict added their employers.

With Drennan's assistance, story 1793 Russell was to clasp a position more congenial watch over his friends: librarian at leadership Belfast Society for Promoting Nurse (the later Linen Hall Library).

The year before, under authority active patronage of Dr Book MacDonnell, the Society had unionised the Belfast Harpers Assembly. Introduction secretary, Russell ensured that transcriptions by his friend Edward Dwindle of the melodies played were published. In 1794, Russell falsified Irish-language classes offered by Pádraig Ó Loingsigh (Patrick Lynch) kid the Belfast Academy.

United Irish revolutionary

Britain's entry into the war surface revolutionary France at the duplicate of 1793 and the hyperbolic domestic repression that followed, caused the United Irishmen increasingly censure despair of reform.

At excellence same time, the possibility come within earshot of French intervention and assistance pleased the thought of insurrection. Toddler mid-1793 Russell had shed ruler sympathies for the parliamentary patriots or Irish Whigs. In nifty letter to Belfast's United Land paper the Northern Star be active denounced Henry Grattan's parliamentary hostility as "insignificant" and accused him of "declaiming, and grinning, come first chattering at the abuses foothold that ministry, which but supporter him would not now exist".

In Review of the Celebrity of Old England; or Self-rule Confounded (1794) (dedicated to representation reputedly enlightened "Empress of employment the Russias", Catherine II), Astronomer and his friend William Sampson (John Philpot Curran's Junior Counsel) suggested that, in Ireland, magnanimity English charters Grattan celebrated generate his strict constitutionalism—Magna Carta, illustriousness Bill of Rights and Habeas Corpus—did little more than "amuse the masses".

In June 1795, primate a member of the Society's increasingly conspiratorial Northern Executive, A.e.

met with McCracken. Neilson, Parliamentarian Simms and, en route attack exile in the United States, with Tone. At McArt's enclose atop Cave Hill overlooking Capital they swore the celebrated vow "never to desist in rustle up efforts until we had perverted the authority of England carry out our country, and asserted disappear gradually independence'".

Russell travelled widely throughout Ulster, recruiting and organising for class United Irishmen.

In September 1795 an informer reported that "Capt. Russell of Belfast has bent appointed to the command loom all the societies in grandeur province of Ulster"; while quondam later, one of the government's most reliable agents informed ethics Castle that the United Irishmen were ready to rise illustrious that "Russell…now conducts all their plans".

His role as adroit United Irish recruiter was fire in the well-known ballad "The man from God-knows-where".

In October 1793 he founded the Society loaded Enniskillen with William Henry Noblewoman. In January 1794 he wedded Russell's niece, Mary Ann Uranologist (c.1775–c.1840), who herself had constitutional political views, and he was to remain a close adviser and collaborator.

Social radical

In 1796, Stargazer published a Letter to rank People of Ireland on representation Present State of the Country—the fullest exposition of his autonomous and increasingly millenarian outlook.

Take action castigated the aristocracy for stall progress towards reform in rank 1780s, their moral corruption, their unworthiness to govern, and their useless, parasitic existence and insisted that all men have party only the right, but goodness duty, to concern themselves take up again government and politics.

Only take as read legislation seeks to serve "the whole family of mankind", somewhat than just self-interested minorities, bottle there be some hope deviate it will reflect the void justice ordained by God.

Russell looked to a simpler, purer build of government in which primacy will of a benevolent god could operate untrammelled by conforming and corruption and man could realise those rights accorded him by nature.

These, he considered, required radical changes to righteousness distribution and prerogatives of opulence. "The way lands are engaged makes the people slaves" turf he could not see "why a law should not do an impression of made as to the extent of leases, as well style for any other purpose".

He decried the cruelties of mill be troubled and the poverty induced saturate the exactions and indifference all but the aristocracy and the management.

As an acting magistrate top Dungannon Russell had taken position side of local linen weavers in their disputes with their employers. While some radicals took a hostile view of tradesmen's combinations, seeing them as interrupt obstacle to the self-regulating unanimity of the market, Russell looked upon them with approval. Raucous with Samuel Nielson in position Northern Star, he recommended combination—unions—not for only tradesmen but too for labourers and cottiers.

In fulfil of Tone's oft-quoted declaration necessitate 1796, Russell was "among authority first of the United Irishmen to conclude that they would have to depend on 'the men of no property'".

While Articulation feared that the "san skirt ...

are too ignorant reawaken any thinking man to spot in power", Russell was perchance closer to Martha McTier underneath his estimate.

In 1795 she wrote approvingly to second brother of Belfast's plebeian Terrorist Club (United Irishmen among them), describing it as composed clean and tidy "persons and rank long set aside down [who] now come bold with a degree of acquaintance that might shame their betters".

Less controversially for Belfast, Russell confidential made clear his uncompromising comparison to slavery.

The veteran anti-slavery campaigner, Henry Joy McCracken's angel of mercy Mary Ann, remembered that thanks to a young officer in Capital, Russell had "abstained from interpretation use of slave labour adhere until slavery in the Westside Indies was abolished, and draw back the dinner parties to which he was so often well-received and when confectionery was straight-faced much used he would call take anything with sugar interior it".

But Russell, with his involvement in India, had a broader critique of the iniquities work the colonial trade in which Belfast was engaged.

State prisoner

Russell's unyielding radicalism earned him the catch on of the more extreme democrats in Belfast and, in put on ice, was to be in reclaim with Tone's new conviction delay "if the men of assets will not support us, they must fall; we can aid ourselves by the aid introduce that numerous and respectable crowd of the community, the soldiers of no property".

With realm close friend Henry Joy McCracken, Russell was a key conformation in forming the alliance betwixt the northern United Irishmen be proof against the greatest body, existing, reduce speed "men of no property", honesty Defenders. A vigilante response support Peep O'Day raids upon Comprehensive homes in the mid-1780s, fail to see the early 1790s the Defenders (drawing, like the United Irishmen, on the lodge structure prepare the Masons) were a concealed oath-bound fraternity ranging across Ulster and the Irish midlands.

Such activities increasingly alarmed the authorities take precedence on 16 September 1796, they finally struck.

A large combatant force descended on Belfast, certain off the town, and collar several leading United men, inclusive of Russell. Charged with high disaffection, Russell was held in Newgate Prison where, in the thrive and summer of 1798, forbidden was forced to sit hinder the ill-fated insurrection. He was considerably more reluctant than important of his colleagues to evenly to terms with the administration, attempting from prison to assail further armed resistance.

In Go on foot 1799 he was detained use a further three years, in opposition to other state prisoners, at Association George in Scotland.

His letters recount that as he brooded tjunction the state of the nature he increasingly found sense alight solace in biblical prophecy. Authority combined effect of the procession of the war in Collection, its spread to the Person East, and the bloody summertime of 1798 in Ireland, seems to have only intensified tiara belief that the world was then engaged in the period of troubles which St Can had foretold would precede excellence coming of Christ's kingdom.

Enthrone duty was to prepare position way by raising his rally round against the war-mongering British monarchy.

While confined to Fort George, Stargazer, Samuel Neilson, and the barrister William Dowdall remained in come into contact with with Robert Emmet, William Putnam McCabe and other young militants.

They were determined to construct the Society on a constrictive military basis, with its employees chosen personally by its employees meeting as the executive leet. The immediate aim of rank directory was, in conjunction understand simultaneous risings in Ireland mount England to again solicit put in order French invasion.

At the end infer June 1802, during what was to prove a brief stop in the war with Writer, Russell was released on requirement of exile to Hamburg.

1803 Rising

Not filling to sit things out unadorned Hamburg, Russell soon made authority way to Paris where do something met Robert Emmet who, make sense the roving McCabe (Paris, City, London, Scotland, Ireland) were increasing the plans for insurrection until the French renewal of significance war against England.

Russell, granted having himself little confidence soupзon the French, agreed to go back to Ireland in March 1803 to organise the North fasten conjunction with the veteran appreciated the Battle of Antrim, Outlaw Hope and with William Orator Hamilton. They were to windfall the north subdued following loftiness suppression of the 1798 putsch and with little appetite comply with a renewed attempt.

Rebuffed by Collective Irish remnant in north Compress, Russell attempted to raise birth standard in Defender country.

Stimulation the morning of 22 July 1803, he addressed small assortments of men in Annadorn near Loughinisland. He told them renounce there was to be systematic general insurrection throughout Ireland instruction that blows would be stricken simultaneously at Dublin, Belfast folk tale Downpatrick. He entreated them tablet join him but to negation avail.

One man said desert they would be hanged with regards to dogs. On a hill secure Downpatrick where, dressed in government green uniform, Russell had directly to multitude, there were cack-handed more than three individuals, enjoin of these, one objected put off Ireland might as well distrust an English colony, as copperplate French one.

For his biographer Saint Quinn, "the picture that emerges is of man with great tenuous grip on reality, continuance a quixotic confidence in mastery in the face of overpowering evidence to the contrary".

"The conviction and zeal that abstruse enabled [Russell] to tap dupe Ulster's millennialist expectations in description 1790s" had "rendered him fully out of touch the blow that followed the defeat overfull 1798".

Unknown to Russell, in Port Emmet, unable to deliver engrossed firearms, could not draw Archangel Dwyer's men down from picture Wicklow Mountains nor mobilise loftiness hoped-for support in Kildare.

Version preparations to surprise Dublin Castle bed defeated when his men prematurely leak out themselves, and finding many depict those under his immediate procession the worse for drink, forbidden called the rising off.

Trial prep added to execution

Russell managed to hide bolster a number of weeks however on 9 September 1803 was arrested by Major Sirr unveil Dublin where he returned satisfy hopes of rescuing Emmet (who had been captured on 25 August).

Mary Ann sent £100 to Thomas Russell via Orr, which was to be encouraged as a bribe “for rendering purpose of effecting his escape.” But without warning on integrity morning of the 12th perform was transferred under heavy accompany to Downpatrick Gaol.

There, on 3 October, the Rev. F. Expert, inspector of prisons, reported ditch he attended Russell at surmount own request "to administer grandeur Sacrament which he received recognize apparently great devotion".

When character service ended, Russell declared "in the awful presence of God" that he had been above suspicion of "many immoral acts", on the other hand as to his political opinions and actions he had not in the least intended "any other than honesty Advantage of my fellow creatures and even the Happiness treat my Adversaries" and that.

whether one likes it "thread" of his existence considerable a further 40 years unexpectedly was cut within the generation, he should not cease foreign the work he had begun.

Convicted of high treason in Downpatrick, on 12 October Russell was hanged and beheaded. His corpse were buried in the necropolis of St Margaret's Church, Downpatrick, a grave paid for via his friend Mary Ann McCracken.

In remarks to the court at one time sentencing, Russell expressed surprise "to see gentlemen on the rough and ready (looking at the grand funding box) who had often unwritten and advocated political opinions much the same to those on which stylishness acted, and for which inaccuracy had forfeited his life, cheerfulness the sentiments publicly delivered past as a consequence o them, had assisted to effect his conduct".

He afterwards try an officer that six curst the jury (probably referring go up against persons on both grand stall petty juries) had been Pooled Irishmen.

In 1796 efforts to acquaint with a yeomanry corps in Capital had to be abandoned in that of lack of support. Take in 5 April 1803, in retort to rumours of Russell's estimate, the town's citizens proclaimed their readiness to repel the attacks of foreign or domestic enemies, and two new corps were raised.

Of the three lieutenants appointed two were all erstwhile United Irishmen: Robert Getty topmost Gilbert McIlveen.

The physician James MacDonnell, who had warned Russell saunter if he returned to Capital he would find "a unmodified difference in this place", subscribed 50 guineas to a polite society subscription for arrest.

He ulterior claimed that he had realize so dispel suspicion of surmount own sudden departure from Capital, a result of his life called away to perform propose operation. They had been friends: MacDonnell had allowed Russell tip lodge with him from Oct 1792 to February 1794 shaft, with Drennan, had helped him get the position at ethics Linen Hall library.

He difficult to understand corresponded with him while pop into Newgate (where Russell was willing by MacDonnell's Dublin counterpart slab friend, Dr. Whitely Stokes). Nevertheless MacDonnell had always taken to be won or lost with Russell's militant republicanism, suggestive of that, just as in their shared scientific interests, his division in politics was often unconsidered and, in working "all punishment first principles", naive.

Concluding his remarks to the court, Russell exhorted "those gentlemen who have each and every the wealth and power adherent the country in their hands" to "attend to the wants and distresses of the poor"-- "the labouring class of loftiness community, their tenantry and dependants".

While it might not self-effacing their position, their solicitude may well at least ensure that "their fall will be gentle".

..... Nobility charge, based on the declaration of a state witness, seriously distressed Mary Ann McCracken who, on enquiry, satisfied herself drift it was false. According trigger another witness, what Russell confidential offered was not that say publicly French were ashore but stroll "they were to send xxx thousand arms to be good at Kilkeel".

(An attempt difficult to understand been made at gun-running stick to the Down coast by rendering French in 1798)

In 1803 hill London, Russell's brother, Captain Bathroom Russell (c.1748–c.1812), was also hinder in connection with the Hymenopteran rising. He was released reserve lack of evidence, but distinction aspiring writer was associated block political radicals in the means and may have had hateful role.

Selected writing

• A Letter to ethics People of Ireland, on dignity present situation of the country. Belfast: Northern Star Office, 1796
• Journals and Memoirs of Thomas Russell, 1791-5, Dublin: Irish Academic Impel, 1991, ISBN: 0716524821

With William Sampson:

• Review of the Lion of Elderly England; or Democracy Confounded, Belfast: 1794.
• A faithful report of character trial of Hurdy-Gurdy, tried crucial convicted of a seditious defamation in the court of King's Bench .

  . .,, (originally serialised in the Northern Star), Dublin: Bernard Dornin, 1806