Bagenal Harvey
Encyclopedia
Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey (died 28 June 1798) was a barrister
and a commander of the United Irishmen in the Battle of New Ross
during the 1798 Rebellion.
A Protestant known for his liberal principles and a supporter of Catholic emancipation
, from June 1792 Harvey was a member of the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, founded by James Napper Tandy
and Archibald Hamilton Rowan
.
Just before the outbreak of the 1798 Rebellion Harvey was arrested at his home on 26 May 1798 at 11.00 p.m. A rebel colonel, Anthony Perry
, divulged the information after giving in to torture by Crown forces. He was imprisoned at Wexford Gaol until its occupation by the rebels, and on his liberation he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the rebel forces, perhaps against his will. His first plan was to advance westwards via New Ross
into County Kilkenny
in hope of finding new supporters for the rebellion.
to charge. The attack had some initial success with two thirds of the town in possession of the United Irishmen. They quickly ran out of ammunition and were forced to rely on their pikes
. With the arrival of British reinforcements the rebels were defeated.
. He was replaced as Commander-in-Chief by Philip Roche
and returned to Wexford
where he was appointed President of the town committee. Confident that a treaty would be negotiated by Lord Kingsborough, he retired to Bargy Castle. Shortly afterwards he and John Henry Colclough
travelled to a cave on the Greater Saltee Island
from whence they planned to escape to republican France
. They were betrayed and arrested, brought to Wexford town and hanged
on the bridge on 28 June 1798.
In his memoirs Jonah Barrington
listed Harvey as a rebel supporter in April 1798, before the rebellion started. Thomas Collins, the government spy in the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, had also informed Dublin Castle
about his republican views as early as 1793.
Bagenal Harvey was buried in Mayglass cemetery. The house he lived in before he died was called Mountpleasant House.
The Rev John Graham wrote in his diary, for June 16, 1798: "The Wexford Rebels have taken the command away from Bagenal Harvey and given it to one Clinch, a Popish Priest", so it may be that Harvey did not resign his commission.
, and was an ancestor of General Beauchamp Doran
.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and a commander of the United Irishmen in the Battle of New Ross
Battle of New Ross (1798)
The Battle of New Ross took place in County Wexford in south-eastern Ireland, during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was fought between the Irish Republican insurgents called the United Irishmen and British Crown forces composed of regular soldiers, militia and yeomanry...
during the 1798 Rebellion.
A Protestant known for his liberal principles and a supporter of Catholic emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
, from June 1792 Harvey was a member of the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, founded by James Napper Tandy
James Napper Tandy
James Napper Tandy , was an Irish rebel leader.-Political activism:A Dublin Protestant and the son of an ironmonger, Tandy went to the famous Quaker boarding school in Ballitore, south Kildare, also attended by Edmund Burke who was eight years older.He started life as a small tradesman...
and Archibald Hamilton Rowan
Archibald Hamilton Rowan
Archibald Hamilton Rowan , christened Archibald Hamilton , was an Irish celebrity and a founding member of The Dublin Society of United Irishmen. He was the son of Gawen Hamilton of Killyleagh Castle, Co...
.
Just before the outbreak of the 1798 Rebellion Harvey was arrested at his home on 26 May 1798 at 11.00 p.m. A rebel colonel, Anthony Perry
Anthony Perry
Anthony Perry , known as the "screeching general" was one of the most important leaders of the United Irish Wexford rebels during the 1798 rebellion.-Background:...
, divulged the information after giving in to torture by Crown forces. He was imprisoned at Wexford Gaol until its occupation by the rebels, and on his liberation he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the rebel forces, perhaps against his will. His first plan was to advance westwards via New Ross
New Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
into County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in hope of finding new supporters for the rebellion.
Battle of New Ross
Harvey was in command at the Battle of New Ross on 5 June 1798, in which the rebels were defeated. The rebels outnumbered the British force and had a rebel emissary Matt Furlong deliver surrender terms. While bearing a flag of truce Furlong was shot, prompting 500 of the rebels under John Kelly of KillanneJohn Kelly of Killanne
John Kelly was a United Irish leader who fought in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.While Kelly was obviously well known to rebel and loyalist alike during the short duration of the Wexford rising, almost nothing is known of him outside this time...
to charge. The attack had some initial success with two thirds of the town in possession of the United Irishmen. They quickly ran out of ammunition and were forced to rely on their pikes
Pike (weapon)
A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear used extensively by infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a counter-measure against cavalry assaults. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the...
. With the arrival of British reinforcements the rebels were defeated.
Flight, arrest and execution
On 7 June Harvey resigned at Sliabh Coillte, disgusted with his defeat and the ensuing Scullabogue Barn massacreScullabogue Barn massacre
The Scullabogue massacre was an atrocity committed in Scullabogue , near New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland on 5 June 1798, during the 1798 rebellion when insurgents massacred 100-200 loyalists, both Catholic and Protestant, held prisoner in a barn.-Background:A farm and out-buildings in the...
. He was replaced as Commander-in-Chief by Philip Roche
Philip Roche
Philip Roche was an Irish Roman Catholic priest and commander during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.-Life:He was a priest attached to the parish of Poulpearsay, County Wexford, and formerly of Gorey...
and returned to Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
where he was appointed President of the town committee. Confident that a treaty would be negotiated by Lord Kingsborough, he retired to Bargy Castle. Shortly afterwards he and John Henry Colclough
John Henry Colclough
John Henry Colclough was an Irish revolutionary during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.He was born circa 1769 into an old landowning Wexford family, the son of Thomas Francis Colclough and lived at Ballyteigue, Kilmore, in the barony of Bargy, Co. Wexford. He went abroad to study medicine and...
travelled to a cave on the Greater Saltee Island
Saltee Islands
The Saltee Islands are a pair of small islands lying 5 kilometres off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee and Little Saltee . They have been uninhabited since the early 20th century...
from whence they planned to escape to republican France
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
. They were betrayed and arrested, brought to Wexford town and hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
on the bridge on 28 June 1798.
In his memoirs Jonah Barrington
Jonah Barrington (judge)
Sir Jonah Barrington , was one of no less than sixteen children, six at least, and probably seven were sons of John Barrington, a landowner in County Laois...
listed Harvey as a rebel supporter in April 1798, before the rebellion started. Thomas Collins, the government spy in the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, had also informed Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
about his republican views as early as 1793.
Bagenal Harvey was buried in Mayglass cemetery. The house he lived in before he died was called Mountpleasant House.
The Rev John Graham wrote in his diary, for June 16, 1798: "The Wexford Rebels have taken the command away from Bagenal Harvey and given it to one Clinch, a Popish Priest", so it may be that Harvey did not resign his commission.
Family
Harvey was a cousin of the founder of Bagenalstown in County CarlowCounty Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and was an ancestor of General Beauchamp Doran
Beauchamp Doran
Major-General Beauchamp John Colclough Doran, CB, was a British Army officer who commanded the 25th Division during the First World War...
.