Pogue Mahone's Irish Pub
17904 Cottonwood Drive
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 870-5720
Nine Famous Irishmen
In Ireland in 1848 the following nine men were captured, tried and convicted of treason against Her Majesty, the Queen, and were sentenced to death: John Mitchell, Morris Lyene, Pat Donahue, Thomas McGee, Charles Duffy, Thomas Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, Terrence McManus and Michael Ireland.
Before passing sentence, the judge asked if there was anything that anyone wished to say. Meagher, speaking for all said:
"My lord, this is our first offence but not our last. If you will be easy with us this once, we promise, on our word as gentlemen, to try to do better next time. And next time --- sure we won't be fools to get caught."
Thereupon the indignant judge sentenced them all to be hanged by the neck until dead and drawn and quartered. Passionate protest from all over the world forced Queen Victoria to commute the sentence to transportation for life to the far wilds of Australia.
In 1874, word reached the astounded Queen Victoria that Sir Charles Duffy, who had been elected Prime Minister of Australia was the same Charles Duffy what had been transported 25 years before. On the Queen's demand, the records of the rest of the transported men were revealed and this is what was uncovered:
Thomas Francis Meagher
Governor of Montana
Terrence McManus
Brigadier General,
United States Army
Patrick Donahue
Brigadier General,
United States Army
Richard O'Gorman
Governor General
of Newfoundland
Morris Lyene
Attourney General of
Australia in which office-
Michael Ireland
succeeded him.
Thomas D'arey McGee
Member of Parliament Montreal,
Minister of Agriculture and President
of Council Dominion of Canada
John Mitchell
Prominent New York politician, This
man was the father of John Purroy
Mitchell, Mayor of New York at the
outbreak of World War 1.
