Charles McGuinness
Encyclopedia
Charles John 'Nomad' McGuinness (March 6, 1893 – December 7, 1947) was an Irish adventurer, author, and sailor supposed to have been involved with a myriad of acts of patriotism and nomadic impulses. His history is shrouded in myths and mystery, making many of its details' authority questionable.
Charles “Nomad” McGuinness was born March 6, 1893. He was raised in Lower End, Derry
, Ireland
. His mother, Margaret Hernand was of Spanish descent, and his father, Charles McGuinness, was an Irish ship captain. Margaret died when Charles was young. Charles had two brothers, Hugh and John McGuinness. Hugh was a headmaster of St. Eugene’s in Rosemount
, and John was a teacher as well.
Charles had a few wives in his lifetime. His first wife, Clara (or Claire) was German, whom he married in Vienna then moved to New York
where they had their son, Patrick Joseph. Little is known about his second wife, other than her burial in the City cemetery. His third wife was buried in Donegal
.
In 1908, at the age of 15, Charles went off to sea on the schooner “Vixen”. His first world trip was in 1909 on the ship "Cedarbark". It went from Wales
to Iquique in Chile and then on to New York. In 1910, Charles arrived in Sydney
, Australia
on "the Pilgrim". "The Pilgrim" ended up shipwrecked off of the coast of Tahiti
in 1910.
region, but deserted in 1916 when he heard about the rebellion for independence taking place in Ireland
.
He then joined the Afrikaners against the British. It was shortly after this that he is rumored to have been captured by the Germans. He convinced them that he was on their side and fought with them for a time in their East African Campaign.
McGuinness claims in his autobiography to have been the sole survivor of a ship-wreck in Delagoa Bay near Mozambique
in November of 1917. As the story goes, he was aboard the S.S. Vasco de Gama, a Portuguese steamer, when the ship wrecked and sank at the mouth of shark infested waters.
McGuinness finally returned to Derry in 1920. He became involved in defending the Catholics during the Derry Riots. He was made the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the Irish Republican Army
’s (IRA) Northern Capacity. He assisted in the escape of Frank Carty
, the leader of the IRA, from Derry Gaol
in February 1921.
Four months later, he was captured and wounded in Belfast
. He was imprisoned in the Ebrington Military Barracks in Derry. His guards thought he was too weak to escape so they paid little attention to him. Friar Coyles maintains that McGuinness escaped by being smuggled out in a coffin, which is likely a fabricated story.
After his trips to Antarctica, Russia
and a brief stint in China
, McGuinness was back in the military for the last time. He traveled to Spain
to fight on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War
. More information about his experiences in Spain, can be found from the series of articles he wrote for the Irish Independent
Newspaper.
to Java
and then to Easter Island
. During this time, Charles took part in riots and mutinies on many different boats. Before World War I
, Charles was gold mining in Australia
, and went on adventures to the Mediterranean, Black Sea
, Africa
, Mexico
, the West Indies, Brazil
, China
, and Japan
. This can be found in his account ‘Nomad’.
Charles also "hoboed" in Canada
and even became part of the Canadian militia
before his return to Europe
. He was eventually rumored to have become incarcerated in Venice
.
From 1928 to 1930, McGuinness helped locate and evaluate the vessels used for the first Byrd expedition to Antarctica. He played the official number two role on the expedition as the first officer
.
and published as "Nomad" in the United Kingdom
. This eighteen chapter book, published in 1935 is an autobiography of McGuinness’ and his travels. The memoir details his life in the army as well as his various adventures which include shipwrecks and imprisonment.
where he worked as a harbor master for the Port of St. Petersburg. The usage of the “curtain” metaphor in the title may be one of the most primitive reference applied to the Soviet Union
.
Newspaper in 1937. The introduction titled, “True Story That Will Thrill You,” depicts McGuinness’s account of his adventures at the time of the Spanish Civil War
. The first piece, entitled “Adventures In War-Torn Spain,” continues his account of this period. The second piece is entitled “Foul War on Religion.” The third piece is called “Massacre in A Cemetery.” The fourth piece is called “Under Fire by the Enemy.” The fifth piece is called “Among those about to Die.” These featured articles depict Charles “Nomad” McGuinness’s adventures at the time of the Spanish Civil War. His articles mainly focus on the destruction, death, and corruption related to the war in Spain
.
when the Isallt, a western ocean yacht hit rocks on a trial voyage to the West Indies.
Early Life
Not much is known fact about the life of Charles McGuinness. His life is a mixture of truth and legend. Whatever is known about him can be found in his articles, as well as popular legends of the time.Charles “Nomad” McGuinness was born March 6, 1893. He was raised in Lower End, Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His mother, Margaret Hernand was of Spanish descent, and his father, Charles McGuinness, was an Irish ship captain. Margaret died when Charles was young. Charles had two brothers, Hugh and John McGuinness. Hugh was a headmaster of St. Eugene’s in Rosemount
Rosemount
-Place names:in Australia* Rosemount, Queensland* Rosemount, New South Wales* Rosemount , an Australian brandname owned by Treasury Wine Estatesin Canada* Rosemount No. 378, Saskatchewan, a rural municipality in Saskatchewan, Canadain Ireland...
, and John was a teacher as well.
Charles had a few wives in his lifetime. His first wife, Clara (or Claire) was German, whom he married in Vienna then moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where they had their son, Patrick Joseph. Little is known about his second wife, other than her burial in the City cemetery. His third wife was buried in Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
.
In 1908, at the age of 15, Charles went off to sea on the schooner “Vixen”. His first world trip was in 1909 on the ship "Cedarbark". It went from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to Iquique in Chile and then on to New York. In 1910, Charles arrived in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on "the Pilgrim". "The Pilgrim" ended up shipwrecked off of the coast of Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
in 1910.
Military Career
The first known origins of McGuinness' military career came when he fought for the English in Africa. He was initially in the CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
region, but deserted in 1916 when he heard about the rebellion for independence taking place in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
He then joined the Afrikaners against the British. It was shortly after this that he is rumored to have been captured by the Germans. He convinced them that he was on their side and fought with them for a time in their East African Campaign.
McGuinness claims in his autobiography to have been the sole survivor of a ship-wreck in Delagoa Bay near Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in November of 1917. As the story goes, he was aboard the S.S. Vasco de Gama, a Portuguese steamer, when the ship wrecked and sank at the mouth of shark infested waters.
McGuinness finally returned to Derry in 1920. He became involved in defending the Catholics during the Derry Riots. He was made the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
’s (IRA) Northern Capacity. He assisted in the escape of Frank Carty
Frank Carty
Francis Joseph Carty was a leader of the IRA in the fight with the Black and Tans in the Irish War of Independence, and a long-serving Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála .- Prison Escapes and Attempts :...
, the leader of the IRA, from Derry Gaol
Derry Gaol
Derry Gaol, also known as Londonderry Gaol, refers to one of several gaols constructed consecutively in Derry, Northern Ireland...
in February 1921.
Four months later, he was captured and wounded in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. He was imprisoned in the Ebrington Military Barracks in Derry. His guards thought he was too weak to escape so they paid little attention to him. Friar Coyles maintains that McGuinness escaped by being smuggled out in a coffin, which is likely a fabricated story.
After his trips to Antarctica, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and a brief stint in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, McGuinness was back in the military for the last time. He traveled to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to fight on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. More information about his experiences in Spain, can be found from the series of articles he wrote for the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
Newspaper.
Other Adventures
His adventures expanded even further from AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
and then to Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
. During this time, Charles took part in riots and mutinies on many different boats. Before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Charles was gold mining in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and went on adventures to the Mediterranean, Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the West Indies, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. This can be found in his account ‘Nomad’.
Charles also "hoboed" in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and even became part of the Canadian militia
Canadian Militia
The Canadian Militia was the traditional title for the land forces of Canada from before Confederation in 1867 to 1940 when it was renamed the Canadian Army.The Militia consisted of:* Permanent Active Militia* Non-Permanent Active Militia...
before his return to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He was eventually rumored to have become incarcerated in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
From 1928 to 1930, McGuinness helped locate and evaluate the vessels used for the first Byrd expedition to Antarctica. He played the official number two role on the expedition as the first officer
First officer
In commercial aviation, the first officer is the second pilot of an aircraft. The first officer is second-in-command of the aircraft, to the captain who is the legal commander...
.
Literary Works
In Charles McGuinness' lifetime, he published two books and contributed a series of articles to the Irish Republican Newspaper.Sailor of Fortune (Nomad)
McGuinness’ first book was published as "Sailor of Fortune" in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and published as "Nomad" in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. This eighteen chapter book, published in 1935 is an autobiography of McGuinness’ and his travels. The memoir details his life in the army as well as his various adventures which include shipwrecks and imprisonment.
Behind the Red Curtain
"Behind the Red Curtain", published in the United Kingdom in 1936 is a chronicle of McGuinness’ time in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
where he worked as a harbor master for the Port of St. Petersburg. The usage of the “curtain” metaphor in the title may be one of the most primitive reference applied to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Irish Independent Spanish Civil War Feature Articles
Charles “Nomad” McGuinness wrote a six piece article featured in the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
Newspaper in 1937. The introduction titled, “True Story That Will Thrill You,” depicts McGuinness’s account of his adventures at the time of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. The first piece, entitled “Adventures In War-Torn Spain,” continues his account of this period. The second piece is entitled “Foul War on Religion.” The third piece is called “Massacre in A Cemetery.” The fourth piece is called “Under Fire by the Enemy.” The fifth piece is called “Among those about to Die.” These featured articles depict Charles “Nomad” McGuinness’s adventures at the time of the Spanish Civil War. His articles mainly focus on the destruction, death, and corruption related to the war in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Death
Not much is known about McGuinness’ later life or his death on December 7, 1947. He mysteriously drowned, along with four other members of the seven man crew, in the Irish SeaIrish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
when the Isallt, a western ocean yacht hit rocks on a trial voyage to the West Indies.
External links
- http://www.irishresistancebooks.com/nomad.htm
- http://www.mcguinnessonline.com/irishsailor/photos.htm