United Irish Uprising
Encyclopedia
In April 1800, rumours flew through St. John's, Newfoundland that up to 400 Irishmen
had taken the secret oath of the Society of the United Irishmen
. It is believed that some 80 or more Irish
soldiers in the British army
planned to meet and mutiny at the powder shed behind the British garrison
at Fort Townshend. Their plan was to kill their officers and the leading British inhabitants of St. John's assembled for worship in the Church of England Cathedral
on Sunday, April 20, 1800.
Nineteen soldiers took up arms and assembled at the powder shed behind Fort Townshend, expecting to be joined by others. Soldiers from Fort William were unable to join them, however, because the commander there had scheduled a social function that night, detaining many of the men. Word of the mutiny
spread quickly, the alarm was raised, and the deserting soldiers were pursued as they fled over the barrens and into the woods behind St. John's.
Within several weeks, all of the 19 were captured, except for the two ringleaders, Sergeant Kelly and James Murphy. Four of the mutineers who informed on the others were not tried by court martial. Of the remaining 13, five were hanged and eight were sent to Halifax
to be dealt with by the Duke of Kent
. Within several more weeks of the mutiny, all the remaining soldiers of the St. John's garrison were transferred to Halifax.
The Newfoundland rebellion
was the only one to occur which the British administration linked directly to the Irish Rebellion of 1798
. The uprising in St. John's was significant in that it was the first occasion on which the Irish
in Newfoundland deliberately challenged the authority of the state, and because the British
feared that it might not be the last. It earned for Newfoundland a reputation as a Transatlantic Tipperary
–a far-flung but semi-Irish colony with the potential for political chaos.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
had taken the secret oath of the Society of the United Irishmen
Society of the United Irishmen
The Society of United Irishmen was founded as a liberal political organisation in eighteenth century Ireland that sought Parliamentary reform. However, it evolved into a revolutionary republican organisation, inspired by the American Revolution and allied with Revolutionary France...
. It is believed that some 80 or more Irish
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...
soldiers in the 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...
planned to meet and mutiny at the powder shed behind the British garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
at Fort Townshend. Their plan was to kill their officers and the leading British inhabitants of St. John's assembled for worship in the Church of England Cathedral
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (St. John's)
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is located in the city of St. John's, Newfoundland. This parish in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador was founded in 1699 in response to a petition drafted by the Anglican townsfolk of St. John's and sent to the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev....
on Sunday, April 20, 1800.
Nineteen soldiers took up arms and assembled at the powder shed behind Fort Townshend, expecting to be joined by others. Soldiers from Fort William were unable to join them, however, because the commander there had scheduled a social function that night, detaining many of the men. Word of the mutiny
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
spread quickly, the alarm was raised, and the deserting soldiers were pursued as they fled over the barrens and into the woods behind St. John's.
Within several weeks, all of the 19 were captured, except for the two ringleaders, Sergeant Kelly and James Murphy. Four of the mutineers who informed on the others were not tried by court martial. Of the remaining 13, five were hanged and eight were sent to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
to be dealt with by the Duke of Kent
Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn
The Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth son of King George III and the father of Queen Victoria...
. Within several more weeks of the mutiny, all the remaining soldiers of the St. John's garrison were transferred to Halifax.
The Newfoundland rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
was the only one to occur which the British administration linked directly to the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
. The uprising in St. John's was significant in that it was the first occasion on which the Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
in Newfoundland deliberately challenged the authority of the state, and because the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
feared that it might not be the last. It earned for Newfoundland a reputation as a Transatlantic Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
–a far-flung but semi-Irish colony with the potential for political chaos.