Richard D'Alton Williams
Encyclopedia
Richard D'Alton Williams (8 October 1822 – 5 July 1862) was an Irish
physician and poet, "Shamrock" of the Nation
.
He came to Dublin in 1843 to study medicine. He started contributing verses to the Nation in the 1840s. In 1848 he brought out a newspaper, the Irish Tribune, to take the place of the suppressed United Irishman
, founded by John Mitchel
. Before the sixth weekly publication, it was seized by Government, and proceedings were instituted against the editors, Williams and his friend Kevin Izod O'Doherty
. On 30 October 1848, at a third trial, O'Doherty was convicted and transported to Australia; while Williams, tried two days afterwards, was acquitted. He then resumed his medical studies, took out his degree at Edinburgh in 1849 and emigrated to America in 1851.
In the USA he practised medicine until he became ill and died of tuberculosis in Thibodaux, Louisiana
in 1862. He is buried there in St. Joseph's Cemetery. His headstone was later erected that year by Irish members of the 8th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment, then encamped in Thibodaux.
He was married to Elizabeth Connolly, with whom he had two children.
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...
physician and poet, "Shamrock" of the Nation
The 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...
.
Life
He was born in Dublin, son of Count D'Alton and Mary Williams. He was educated at Tullabeg Jesuit College and St. Patrick's College, Carlow.He came to Dublin in 1843 to study medicine. He started contributing verses to the Nation in the 1840s. In 1848 he brought out a newspaper, the Irish Tribune, to take the place of the suppressed United Irishman
United Irishman
The United Irishman title has been a very popular newspaper title in Ireland and a number of newspapers have been published under the title.*...
, founded by 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...
. Before the sixth weekly publication, it was seized by Government, and proceedings were instituted against the editors, Williams and his friend 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...
. On 30 October 1848, at a third trial, O'Doherty was convicted and transported to Australia; while Williams, tried two days afterwards, was acquitted. He then resumed his medical studies, took out his degree at Edinburgh in 1849 and emigrated to America in 1851.
In the USA he practised medicine until he became ill and died of tuberculosis in Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux...
in 1862. He is buried there in St. Joseph's Cemetery. His headstone was later erected that year by Irish members of the 8th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment, then encamped in Thibodaux.
He was married to Elizabeth Connolly, with whom he had two children.