John Savage (Fenian)
Encyclopedia
John Savage was a poet, journalist and author. A member of both the Young Ireland
ers and the Fenians.
newspaper stating: “A the period, I trust, is rapidly approaching when the skill and valour of our citizen soldiers will be put to the test, I am induced, on the part of a large number of students of the different professions, to suggest the immediate organisation in Dublin of a society on the basis of the Ecole Polytechnique of Paris.” A Students’ Club was later formed as a direct result of this letter.
Up! Up! Brothers all
For Liberty dear!
From Dark Donegal
To sea-beat Cape Clear,
From Achill’s west isles
To Ben Heder’s head
A young nation smiles
Round Liberty’s bed.
Because of his activities in the School of Art, the Royal Dublin Society suggested that he could not remain a student in the Academy and on the arrest of Kevin Izod O'Doherty
and Dalton Williams, the registered proprietors of the Tribune in July, Savage, in order to avoid arrest left Dublin. He went to County Tipperary
in search of William Smith O'Brien
and the other Irish Confederation
leaders. Meeting John O'Mahony
, the two organised an attack on the barracks at Portlaw, County Waterford
, but were not successful and had to withdraw for want of adequate forces.
on 7 November, 1848. Within a week he was appointed a proof reader on the New York Tribune. In January, 1854, Savage became involved with John Mitchel
’s first American newspaper, The Citizen. In August of that year he married Louise Reid, daughter of Samuel Chester Reid
, a sea captain, who according to T.F. O’Sullivan, had the distinction of designing the present form of the American flag.
In 1857 Savage went to Washington, were he became the principal leader writer on the States Journal. He wrote a tragedy entitled "Sybil" which was then produced in various parts of America, and would later be published in 1850. In 1860 he published Our Leading Representative Men, containing sketches of Presidential candidates in 1861. One of these sketches he expanded and published it as a Life of Andrew Johnson.
According to T.F. O’Sullivan, Savage is said to have joined the 69th Regiment and to have taken part in the Civil War on the side of the Federal Government. During this time he wrote inspiring War poems one of which, "The Starry Flag," was written during May, 1861, on board the United States transport, Marmion, as she sailed up the Potomac through the massed batteries of the enemy.
Various editions of Savage’s poems have been published in America. His finest poem O’Sullivan says was "Shane’s Head."
in America, traveling through the United States on their behalf. He was proposed by President Johnson as United States Consul in Leeds but the appointment was never made. He became very popular as a lecturer. In 1879, Saint John’s College, Fordham, Westchester County (later to become Fordham University
, and the Bronx) conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D.
Young Ireland
Young Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid-19th century. It led changes in Irish nationalism, including an abortive rebellion known as the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Many of the latter's leaders were tried for sedition and sentenced to penal transportation to...
ers and the Fenians.
Early life
John Savage, who was born in Dublin on 13 December, 1828. As a young Art student in Dublin he was drawn into the insurrectionary movement in ‘48. On the 11 March 1848 he wrote a letter which appeared in The NationThe Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
newspaper stating: “A the period, I trust, is rapidly approaching when the skill and valour of our citizen soldiers will be put to the test, I am induced, on the part of a large number of students of the different professions, to suggest the immediate organisation in Dublin of a society on the basis of the Ecole Polytechnique of Paris.” A Students’ Club was later formed as a direct result of this letter.
Students’ Club
In April, 1848, Savage and John de Courcey Young produced a provocative publication called The Patriot, which was at once suppressed and seized by the British Government. In the same month, at a meeting of the Students’ Club, with Savage presiding, at their rooms, No. 27 Eden Quay, it was decided to appoint a subcommittee of five “ to ascertain and report on the best method of the members of the Club arming themselves individually.” This followed on from a proposition by Richard Dalton Williams, one of the most popular of all The Nations poets.Irish Tribune
Savage wrote poems for the Irish Tribune, the first number of which appeared on 10 June, 1848, and which was suppressed after the fifth issue. It was his association with the Irish Tribune which would become largely responsible for developing his poetic and literary’ talents. The opening stanza of his first poem, "Up! Up! Brothers All," was described as a "National Anthem of Freedom"Up! Up! Brothers all
For Liberty dear!
From Dark Donegal
To sea-beat Cape Clear,
From Achill’s west isles
To Ben Heder’s head
A young nation smiles
Round Liberty’s bed.
Because of his activities in the School of Art, the Royal Dublin Society suggested that he could not remain a student in the Academy and on the arrest of Kevin Izod O'Doherty
Kevin Izod O'Doherty
Kevin Izod O'Doherty was an Irish Australian politician.-Biography:O'Doherty was born in Dublin on 7 September 1823, although other sources indicate that he may have been born in June 1824 and Charles Gavan Duffy, in his My Life in Two Hemispheres, states that O'Doherty was still under age when he...
and Dalton Williams, the registered proprietors of the Tribune in July, Savage, in order to avoid arrest left Dublin. He went to County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in search of William Smith O'Brien
William Smith O'Brien
William Smith O'Brien was an Irish Nationalist and Member of Parliament and leader of the Young Ireland movement. He was convicted of sedition for his part in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, but his sentence of death was commuted to deportation to Van Diemen's Land. In 1854, he was...
and the other Irish Confederation
Irish Confederation
The Irish Confederation was an Irish nationalist independence movement, established on 13 January 1847 by members of the Young Ireland movement who had seceded from Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association. Historian T. W...
leaders. Meeting John O'Mahony
John O'Mahony
John O'Mahony may refer to:*John O'Mahony , founder of the Irish Republican Brotherhood *John O'Mahony , Irish Fine Gael politician representing Mayo and twice an All-Ireland winner managing the Galway Football Team*Sean Matgamna , also known as John O'Mahony, Trotskyist theorist*Seán O'Mahony ,...
, the two organised an attack on the barracks at Portlaw, 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,...
, but were not successful and had to withdraw for want of adequate forces.
Escape to America
He succeeded in escaping on board a ship from Dublin to America, arriving in New YorkNew 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...
on 7 November, 1848. Within a week he was appointed a proof reader on the New York Tribune. In January, 1854, Savage became involved with John Mitchel
John Mitchel
John Mitchel was an Irish nationalist activist, solicitor and political journalist. Born in Camnish, near Dungiven, County Londonderry, Ireland he became a leading member of both Young Ireland and the Irish Confederation...
’s first American newspaper, The Citizen. In August of that year he married Louise Reid, daughter of Samuel Chester Reid
Samuel Chester Reid
Samuel Chester Reid was an officer in the United States Navy who commanded a privateer during the War of 1812. He is also noted for having helped design the 1818 version of the flag of the United States, which first established the rule of keeping thirteen stripes and adding one star for each U.S...
, a sea captain, who according to T.F. O’Sullivan, had the distinction of designing the present form of the American flag.
Author
In 1856 Savage published his 98 and '48 in addition to his Fenian Heroes and Martyrs and Picturesque Ireland.In 1857 Savage went to Washington, were he became the principal leader writer on the States Journal. He wrote a tragedy entitled "Sybil" which was then produced in various parts of America, and would later be published in 1850. In 1860 he published Our Leading Representative Men, containing sketches of Presidential candidates in 1861. One of these sketches he expanded and published it as a Life of Andrew Johnson.
According to T.F. O’Sullivan, Savage is said to have joined the 69th Regiment and to have taken part in the Civil War on the side of the Federal Government. During this time he wrote inspiring War poems one of which, "The Starry Flag," was written during May, 1861, on board the United States transport, Marmion, as she sailed up the Potomac through the massed batteries of the enemy.
Various editions of Savage’s poems have been published in America. His finest poem O’Sullivan says was "Shane’s Head."
Fenians
Savage played a leading part in organising the Fenian movementFenian 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"...
in America, traveling through the United States on their behalf. He was proposed by President Johnson as United States Consul in Leeds but the appointment was never made. He became very popular as a lecturer. In 1879, Saint John’s College, Fordham, Westchester County (later to become Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, and the Bronx) conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D.