Douglas Pyne
Encyclopedia
Douglas Pyne (1847 – 14 November 1888) was an Irish nationalist
politician from County Waterford
who served as a Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1885 until his unexplained death. Pyne was the fourth child of the Reverend William Masters Pyne and his wife Marian. Rev W M Pyne came from Ballyvolane near Cork but he was the Rector of St Mary's Church in Oxted, Surrey from 1828 to 1869, a remarkable tenure of 41 years. The Pyne family lived in the Rectory (now called Oxted Place) until the Rev W M Pyne inherited Ballyvolane House on his father's death when they moved back to Cork.
was an ardent advocate for the rights of the Irish tenant farmers. As an Irish Parliamentary Party
candidate for the Western division of Waterford
at the general election in October 1885
, he was he was called to court to show cause why he should not give security to keep the peace. Pyne had made a speech in which he had said that "there are two ways of treating a land-grabber - one was to shoot him, and the other, which he believed was the best, was to treat him with all charity and the cold of silence." However, the magistrates refused to consider the authorities' application and set Pyne was set free, winning the subsequent election with over 90% of the votes cast, and taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
.
In November 1887, during the Land War
, a warrant was issued for Pyne's arrest. Pyne had previously destroyed the entrance to his Castle, and retreated to an upper storey, where he had laid in provisions. When there was a crowd gathered Pine would descend on the pulley and bucket which he had fixed to the third floor and address the crowd from 30 ft off the ground, while the police looked on helplessly.
On the night of 9 November 1888 the people of Tallow marched to the Castle led by the town band. Thousands of visitors came to Lisfinny day after day, encouraging and cheering Pyne. He addressed the crowd at Lisfinny for the last time on 12 December, but escaped that night, having passed unrecognised through the police cordon after the cattle were driven in earlier to surround the castle.
Pyne was arrested in London on 10 February 1888, as he was entering the House of Commons. On 14 February, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, which was later reduced to six weeks.
In November 1888, Pyne disappeared off a boat between Holyhead
and Dublin, and was presumed to have drowned. His parliamentary seat remained vacant for a further fifteen months, before the writ was moved for the by-election.
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
politician from County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
who served as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) from 1885 until his unexplained death. Pyne was the fourth child of the Reverend William Masters Pyne and his wife Marian. Rev W M Pyne came from Ballyvolane near Cork but he was the Rector of St Mary's Church in Oxted, Surrey from 1828 to 1869, a remarkable tenure of 41 years. The Pyne family lived in the Rectory (now called Oxted Place) until the Rev W M Pyne inherited Ballyvolane House on his father's death when they moved back to Cork.
Career
Pyne, who had inherited Lisfinny Castle near Tallow, County WaterfordTallow, County Waterford
Tallow is a small town in west County Waterford, Ireland, situated near the County Cork border. It is on the road between Lismore, County Waterford and Youghal, County Cork.-Amenities:...
was an ardent advocate for the rights of the Irish tenant farmers. As an Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
candidate for the Western division of Waterford
West Waterford (UK Parliament constituency)
West Waterford was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1918.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 and after the dissolution of Parliament in 1918 the area was part of the County Waterford constituency.-Members of Parliament:- Sources...
at the general election in October 1885
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, he was he was called to court to show cause why he should not give security to keep the peace. Pyne had made a speech in which he had said that "there are two ways of treating a land-grabber - one was to shoot him, and the other, which he believed was the best, was to treat him with all charity and the cold of silence." However, the magistrates refused to consider the authorities' application and set Pyne was set free, winning the subsequent election with over 90% of the votes cast, and taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
.
In November 1887, during the Land War
Land War
The Land War in Irish history was a period of agrarian agitation in rural Ireland in the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s. The agitation was led by the Irish National Land League and was dedicated to bettering the position of tenant farmers and ultimately to a redistribution of land to tenants from...
, a warrant was issued for Pyne's arrest. Pyne had previously destroyed the entrance to his Castle, and retreated to an upper storey, where he had laid in provisions. When there was a crowd gathered Pine would descend on the pulley and bucket which he had fixed to the third floor and address the crowd from 30 ft off the ground, while the police looked on helplessly.
On the night of 9 November 1888 the people of Tallow marched to the Castle led by the town band. Thousands of visitors came to Lisfinny day after day, encouraging and cheering Pyne. He addressed the crowd at Lisfinny for the last time on 12 December, but escaped that night, having passed unrecognised through the police cordon after the cattle were driven in earlier to surround the castle.
Pyne was arrested in London on 10 February 1888, as he was entering the House of Commons. On 14 February, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, which was later reduced to six weeks.
In November 1888, Pyne disappeared off a boat between Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
and Dublin, and was presumed to have drowned. His parliamentary seat remained vacant for a further fifteen months, before the writ was moved for the by-election.