William Joseph Corbet
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Corbet was an Irish
nationalist
politician
and Member of Parliament
(MP) for constituencies in County Wicklow
for most of the period from 1880 to 1900. He was also a mental health administrator, author
and noted dog breeder.
(now County Offaly), by Alice, youngest daughter of John Mulhall of Clonaslee, County Offaly, he was educated at Broadwood Academy, Lancashire
. He worked for 30 years in the Irish Lunacy Office
, as a Clerk in 1847-53 and Chief Clerk, 1853-77. He was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy
(MRIA) in 1874.
he was elected as one of two Home Rule League
members for Wicklow
, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. The Wicklow constituency was divided under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
, and at the following 1885 general election
he was elected by a much larger majority for the new Eastern division of Wicklow constituency, and again in 1886
. In the enlarged Irish Parliamentary Party
, he was much older than most of his fellow MPs, who were typically born around the time of the Irish Famine in the later 1840s.
When the Irish Parliamentary Party split in December 1890 over Parnell
’s leadership, Corbet was one of the minority who supported Parnell. At the subsequent general election in 1892
, he lost his seat to an Anti-Parnellite, John Sweetman
, coming third after the Unionist candidate. However, at the general election in July 1895
, at the age of 70, he fought back and won the Wicklow East seat by the narrow majority of 87 votes over the Unionist, the Anti-Parnellite this time coming third. This was in spite of the fact that Sweetman, having changed allegiance, had resigned the seat
on 8 April 1895 and lost the subsequent by-election 26 April 1895 when he stood as a Parnellite candidate.
Corbet retired from Parliament
at the general election of 1900
.
. He used to go shooting with Parnell, who was a fellow Wicklow resident; Parnell's brother John Howard Parnell
described Corbet as Charles's 'great sporting chum'. John Parnell also quoted a verse 'In Memory of the Chief' which Corbet wrote for the card issued on the first anniversary of Charles Parnell's death, 6 October 1892.
He married first, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Jennings (she died in 1870), and second Marie, daughter of David Fitzhenry.
Note: The last two publications are listed in Who Was Who but no details are given and they do not appear to be available in British or Irish libraries.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and 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) for constituencies in County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
for most of the period from 1880 to 1900. He was also a mental health administrator, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and noted dog breeder.
Early life
Third son of Robert Corbet of Ballykaneen, Queen’s CountyCounty Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
(now County Offaly), by Alice, youngest daughter of John Mulhall of Clonaslee, County Offaly, he was educated at Broadwood Academy, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He worked for 30 years in the Irish Lunacy Office
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
, as a Clerk in 1847-53 and Chief Clerk, 1853-77. He was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
(MRIA) in 1874.
Political career
In the 1880 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
he was elected as one of two Home Rule League
Home Rule League
The Home Rule League, sometimes called the Home Rule Party, was a political party which campaigned for home rule for the country of Ireland from 1873 to 1882, when it was replaced by the Irish Parliamentary Party.-Origins:...
members for Wicklow
Wicklow (UK Parliament constituency)
Wicklow was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1801 to 1885 it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland....
, taking his seat in 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....
. The Wicklow constituency was divided under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
, and at the following 1885 general election
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 elected by a much larger majority for the new Eastern division of Wicklow constituency, and again in 1886
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
. In the enlarged 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...
, he was much older than most of his fellow MPs, who were typically born around the time of the Irish Famine in the later 1840s.
When the Irish Parliamentary Party split in December 1890 over Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
’s leadership, Corbet was one of the minority who supported Parnell. At the subsequent general election in 1892
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
, he lost his seat to an Anti-Parnellite, John Sweetman
John Sweetman
John Sweetman was an Irish nationalist politician who served as an anti-Parnellite Member of Parliament in the 1890s, but later radicalised...
, coming third after the Unionist candidate. However, at the general election in July 1895
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
, at the age of 70, he fought back and won the Wicklow East seat by the narrow majority of 87 votes over the Unionist, the Anti-Parnellite this time coming third. This was in spite of the fact that Sweetman, having changed allegiance, had resigned the seat
Resignation from the British House of Commons
Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. To circumvent this prohibition, a legal fiction is used...
on 8 April 1895 and lost the subsequent by-election 26 April 1895 when he stood as a Parnellite candidate.
Corbet retired from Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at the general election of 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
.
Personal life
Corbet was an enthusiastic sportsman from boyhood and owner of a famous breed of Irish red settersIrish Red and White Setter
The Irish Red and White Setter is a breed of dog, more specifically a setter. It is virtually identical in use and temperament to its cousin, the Irish Setter, but is more often found as a working gundog.-Appearance:...
. He used to go shooting with Parnell, who was a fellow Wicklow resident; Parnell's brother John Howard Parnell
John Howard Parnell
John Howard Parnell was an older brother of the Irish Nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell and after his brother’s death was himself a Parnellite Nationalist Member of Parliament, for South Meath from 1895 to 1900...
described Corbet as Charles's 'great sporting chum'. John Parnell also quoted a verse 'In Memory of the Chief' which Corbet wrote for the card issued on the first anniversary of Charles Parnell's death, 6 October 1892.
He married first, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Jennings (she died in 1870), and second Marie, daughter of David Fitzhenry.
Writings
- Songs of My Summer Time (published under the pseudonym 'Harry Wildair'), Dublin, 1864
- The Battle of Fontenoy: A Historical Poem, Dublin, McGlashan & Gill, 1871 (revised ed. 1885)
- Ode for the Centenary of Thomas Moore, 1879
- ‘On the statistics of insanity, past and present’, Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, Vol.VI, Part XLVI, 1873/74, pp. 382-94
- 'Is Ireland a Nation?', The Irish Question No.19, London, Irish Press Agency, 1887
- 'On the Increase of Insanity', American Journal of Insanity, 50: 224-38, 1893
- 'The Increase of Insanity', Fortnightly Review, January 1893, pp. 7-19
- What is Home Rule?
- Parnellism or Healyism – Which?
Note: The last two publications are listed in Who Was Who but no details are given and they do not appear to be available in British or Irish libraries.
Sources
- Freeman's Journal, 3 December 1909
- John Howard Parnell, Charles Stewart Parnell: A Memoir, London, Constable, 1916
- Michael Stenton & Stephen Lees, Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Vol.2 1886-1918, Sussex, Harvester Press, 1978
- Brian M. Walker (ed.), Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 1978
- Who Was Who, 1897-1916