J. F. X. O'Brien
Encyclopedia
James Francis Xavier O'Brien (13 or 16 October 1828 – 28 May 1905) was an Irish
nationalist
Fenian
revolutionary. He was later elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
, as a Member of Parliament
(MP) in the Irish Parliamentary Party
.
O'Brien was born in Dungarvan
, Co. Waterford to the merchant family of Timothy and Catherine O'Brien.
In September 1849, he participated an attack, organised by James Fintan Lalor
, on Cappoquin
police barracks and evaded arrest.
In 1854 he won a scholarship to study medicine at Queen's College, Galway. However, a year later he left for Paris
, with his friend John O'Leary, where he continued his studies, attending the École de Médecine. Health problems did not allow him to graduate, however.
Returning to Ireland in 1856, he embarked for New Orleans in the same year. He took part in William Walker's filibuster
in Nicaragua
. After returning to New Orleans, he met James Stephens
in 1858, and joined the Fenian Brotherhood
. He was an assistant surgeon in the Confederate Army in New Orleans in the early stages of the American Civil War
.
In late 1862, he returned to Ireland, where he enrolled in the Irish Republican Brotherhood
in Cork
. He participated in the 1867 Fenian Rising
. On 3 March, he took part in an IRB attack on Ballynockan police barracks, which surrendered. His group was later dispersed by a unit of British Army
infantry and he was arrested near Kilmallock
. In May 1867, he was tried for high treason, convicted, and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted, and he was placed in solitary confinement for much of his sentence. He was released in 1869 as part of an amnesty for Fenians.
He became president of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in and around the summer of 1869. By 1873, he no longer held this position, and had departed from the IRB.
Turning to constitutional politics, he was elected MP
to represent South Mayo
from 1885 to 1895 and as Anti-Parnellite
for Cork City
from 1895 to 1905. He held leading positions in the Irish Parliamentary Party (treasurer from 1886) and the United Irish League of Great Britain
(general secretary, 1900–1905).
He died at his London residence (39 Gauden Road, Clapham
) on 28 May 1905, and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery
, Dublin.
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...
nationalist
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...
Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
revolutionary. He was later elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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....
, 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) in the 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...
.
O'Brien was born in Dungarvan
Dungarvan
Dungarvan is a town and harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Dungarvan is the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford. The town's Irish name means "Garbhan's fort", referring to Saint Garbhan who founded a church there in the seventh century...
, Co. Waterford to the merchant family of Timothy and Catherine O'Brien.
In September 1849, he participated an attack, organised by James Fintan Lalor
James Fintan Lalor
James Fintan Lalor was an Irish revolutionary, journalist, and “one of the most powerful writers of his day.” A leading member of the Irish Confederation , he was to play an active part in both the Rebellion in July 1848 and the attempted Rising in September of that same year...
, on Cappoquin
Cappoquin
Cappoquin, also spelt Cappaquin or Capaquin , is a small town in west County Waterford, Ireland. It is on the Blackwater river at the junction of the N72 national secondary road and the R669 regional road. It is positioned on a sharp 90 degree bend in the river and nestles at the foot of the...
police barracks and evaded arrest.
In 1854 he won a scholarship to study medicine at Queen's College, Galway. However, a year later he left for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, with his friend John O'Leary, where he continued his studies, attending the École de Médecine. Health problems did not allow him to graduate, however.
Returning to Ireland in 1856, he embarked for New Orleans in the same year. He took part in William Walker's filibuster
Filibuster (military)
A filibuster, or freebooter, is someone who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution...
in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. After returning to New Orleans, he met James Stephens
James Stephens (Irish nationalist)
James Stephens was an Irish Republican and the founding member of an originally unnamed revolutionary organisation in Dublin on 17 March 1858, later to become known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood , also referred to as the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood by contemporaries.-Early...
in 1858, and joined the Fenian Brotherhood
Fenian Brotherhood
The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish republican organization founded in the United States in 1858 by John O'Mahony and Michael Doheny. It was a precursor to Clan na Gael, a sister organization to the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Members were commonly known as "Fenians"...
. He was an assistant surgeon in the Confederate Army in New Orleans in the early stages of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
In late 1862, he returned to Ireland, where he enrolled in the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. He participated in the 1867 Fenian Rising
Fenian Rising
The Fenian Rising of 1867 was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland, organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood .After the suppression of the Irish People newspaper, disaffection among Irish radical nationalists had continued to smoulder, and during the later part of 1866 IRB leader James...
. On 3 March, he took part in an IRB attack on Ballynockan police barracks, which surrendered. His group was later dispersed by a unit of British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
infantry and he was arrested near Kilmallock
Kilmallock
Kilmallock or Kilmalloc is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town and King's Castle . The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town,...
. In May 1867, he was tried for high treason, convicted, and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted, and he was placed in solitary confinement for much of his sentence. He was released in 1869 as part of an amnesty for Fenians.
He became president of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in and around the summer of 1869. By 1873, he no longer held this position, and had departed from the IRB.
Turning to constitutional politics, he was elected MP
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,...
to represent South Mayo
South Mayo (UK Parliament constituency)
South Mayo was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1922....
from 1885 to 1895 and as Anti-Parnellite
Irish National Federation
The Irish National Federation was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League who had left the Irish Parliamentary Party in protest when Charles Stewart Parnell refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his...
for Cork City
Cork City (UK Parliament constituency)
Cork City was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1880 to 1922 it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
from 1895 to 1905. He held leading positions in the Irish Parliamentary Party (treasurer from 1886) and the United Irish League of Great Britain
United Irish League
The United Irish League was a nationalist political party in Ireland, launched 23 January 1898 with the motto "The Land for the People" . Its objective to be achieved through agrarian agitation and land reform, compelling larger grazier farmers to surrender their lands for redistribution amongst...
(general secretary, 1900–1905).
He died at his London residence (39 Gauden Road, Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
) on 28 May 1905, and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
, Dublin.
Sources
- Fenian Memories, Dr. Mark F. Ryan, M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd, Dublin, 1945