William Orr
Encyclopedia
William Orr was a member of the United Irishmen who was executed in 1797 in what was widely believed at the time to be "judicial murder" and whose memory led to the rallying cry “Remember Orr” during the 1798 rebellion
.
and then joined the United Irishmen.
Sometime in the mid-1790s, he contributed several articles to their newspaper, the Northern Star.
to a soldier, named Wheatly, an offence which had recently been deemed a capital charge under the Act of Parliament (36 George III), which constituted the administration of their oath a capital felony. The offence was aggravated (from a legal point of view) because of the allegation that it was a serving soldier whom Orr was alleged to have administered the oath to. The prosecution made the most of this “proof” of the “treasonable” aim of the United Irishmen to “seduce from their allegiance” the “men who are the Kingdom's only safeguard against the foreign foe”.
The United Irishmen knew from the evidence of some of their own number that Orr had not administered the oath on the occasion alleged. They also had the evidence of another eye-witness, Jamie Hope. The soldier witness Wheatly perjured himself and it was proved he was of bad character. The person who did tender the oath was a well known member of the Society, William McKeever, who subsequently escaped to America.
It was widely believed at the time that the authorities wished to make an example of Orr to act as a deterrent to potential United Irish recruits. The English engraver George Cumberland
, who was a friend of the poet William Blake
, summed up Britain's activities internationally at this period:
“No news, save that Great Britain is hanging the Irish, hunting the Maroons [slaves], feeding the Vendée (counter-revolutionary district of France), and establishing the human flesh trade.”
The actual nub of the case - which did not appear in the course of the proceedings, but of which everyone, according to T. A. Jackson, was “in the know” and fully aware - was that The United Irishmen's oath had been administered to a soldier; “whether it was Orr or another who administered the oath was merely incidental.”
, and the trial led to a speech, which according T. A. Jackson, “is among the most remarkable of his many remarkable speeches.”
It was a charge of libel against the Press newspaper, the journal founded by Arthur O'Connor to replace the Northern Star. The Press had published an open letter to the Viceroy, remarking scornfully on his refusal to show clemency to Orr. Curran's defence was a counter-attack—an indictment of the Government, root and branch:
, was said to have shed tears at the passing of the death sentence, although Orr's friend, the poet and United Irishman William Drennan
expressed his disgust at this display with the words “I hate those Yelvertonian tears”.
These particulars were placed before the Viceroy, but Lord Camden, the Lord Lieutenant, was “deaf to all appeals.” “Well might Orr exclaim within his dungeon” he said “that the Government had laid down a system having for its object murder and devastation.”
Orr was hanged, in the town of Carrickfargus though his execution was postponed three times on the 14 October 1797, surrounded by an extra strong military guard. It is said that the population of the town, to express their sympathy with the “patriot” being “murdered by law,” and to mark their repugnance of the conduct of the Government towards him, quit the town on the day of his execution.
His fate “excited the deepest indignation through out the country;” and it was commented on “in words of fire” by the national writers of the period, and for many years after the rallying cry of the United Irishmen was: “Remember Orr.”
Orr is regarded as the first United Irish martyr
.
William Drennan
the United Irishmen poet wrote, on Orr's death:
hapless land!
Heap of uncementing sand!
Crumbled by a foreign weight:
And, by worse, domestic hate.
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...
.
Background
Little is known of his early life. Orr was born to a Presbyterian farming family and bleach-green proprietor, of Ferranshane outside Antrim town. The family were in comfortable circumstances, and William Orr as a result received a good education. His appearance and manner were at the time considered noteworthy, he stood six feet two inches in height, and was always carefully and respectably dressed, a familiar feature in his apparel being a green necktie, which he wore "even in his last confinement." His popularity amongst his countrymen is also noted, particularly among the Northern Presbyterian patriots. He was to become active in the Irish VolunteersIrish Volunteers (18th century)
The Irish Volunteers were a militia in late 18th century Ireland. The Volunteers were founded in Belfast in 1778 to defend Ireland from the threat of foreign invasion when regular British soldiers were withdrawn from Ireland to fight across the globe during the American War of Independence...
and then joined the United Irishmen.
Sometime in the mid-1790s, he contributed several articles to their newspaper, the Northern Star.
Arrest and Trial
He was charged with administering the United Irish oathOath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
to a soldier, named Wheatly, an offence which had recently been deemed a capital charge under the Act of Parliament (36 George III), which constituted the administration of their oath a capital felony. The offence was aggravated (from a legal point of view) because of the allegation that it was a serving soldier whom Orr was alleged to have administered the oath to. The prosecution made the most of this “proof” of the “treasonable” aim of the United Irishmen to “seduce from their allegiance” the “men who are the Kingdom's only safeguard against the foreign foe”.
The United Irishmen knew from the evidence of some of their own number that Orr had not administered the oath on the occasion alleged. They also had the evidence of another eye-witness, Jamie Hope. The soldier witness Wheatly perjured himself and it was proved he was of bad character. The person who did tender the oath was a well known member of the Society, William McKeever, who subsequently escaped to America.
It was widely believed at the time that the authorities wished to make an example of Orr to act as a deterrent to potential United Irish recruits. The English engraver George Cumberland
George Cumberland
George Cumberland was an English art collector, writer and poet. He was a lifelong friend and supporter of William Blake, and like him was an experimental printmaker. He was also an amateur watercolourist, and one of the earliest members of the Bristol School of artists...
, who was a friend of the poet William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
, summed up Britain's activities internationally at this period:
“No news, save that Great Britain is hanging the Irish, hunting the Maroons [slaves], feeding the Vendée (counter-revolutionary district of France), and establishing the human flesh trade.”
The actual nub of the case - which did not appear in the course of the proceedings, but of which everyone, according to T. A. Jackson, was “in the know” and fully aware - was that The United Irishmen's oath had been administered to a soldier; “whether it was Orr or another who administered the oath was merely incidental.”
Defence
William Orr was represented by John Philpot CurranJohn Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran was an Irish orator, politician and wit, born in Newmarket, County Cork. He was the son of James and Sarah Curran.-Career:...
, and the trial led to a speech, which according T. A. Jackson, “is among the most remarkable of his many remarkable speeches.”
It was a charge of libel against the Press newspaper, the journal founded by Arthur O'Connor to replace the Northern Star. The Press had published an open letter to the Viceroy, remarking scornfully on his refusal to show clemency to Orr. Curran's defence was a counter-attack—an indictment of the Government, root and branch:
Sentence
The only evidence used against Orr was the unsupported evidence of the soldier Wheatly and after hearing Curran's defence of the prisoner, "there could be no possible doubt of his innocence." Even the presiding judge, YelvertonBarry Yelverton, 1st Viscount Avonmore
Barry Yelverton, 1st Viscount Avonmore, PC KC was an Irish judge and politician.-Life:He was the eldest son of Francis Yelverton of Blackwater, County Cork. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, he was for some years an assistant master under Andrew Buck in the Hibernian Academy...
, was said to have shed tears at the passing of the death sentence, although Orr's friend, the poet and United Irishman William Drennan
William Drennan
William Drennan ,a physician, poet, educationalist and political radical, was one of the chief architects of the Society of United Irishmen...
expressed his disgust at this display with the words “I hate those Yelvertonian tears”.
Speech from the Dock
Legacy
The sentence was hardly passed on William Orr when regret was to seize on those who had aided in securing that verdict. The witness Wheatly, who subsequently went insane, is believed to have died by his own hand, made an affidavit before a magistrate admitting that he had sworn wrongly against Orr. Two of the jury made depositions stating that they had been “induced to join in the verdict of guilty while under the influence of drink”; while two others swore that they had “been terrified into the same course by threats of violence.”These particulars were placed before the Viceroy, but Lord Camden, the Lord Lieutenant, was “deaf to all appeals.” “Well might Orr exclaim within his dungeon” he said “that the Government had laid down a system having for its object murder and devastation.”
Orr was hanged, in the town of Carrickfargus though his execution was postponed three times on the 14 October 1797, surrounded by an extra strong military guard. It is said that the population of the town, to express their sympathy with the “patriot” being “murdered by law,” and to mark their repugnance of the conduct of the Government towards him, quit the town on the day of his execution.
His fate “excited the deepest indignation through out the country;” and it was commented on “in words of fire” by the national writers of the period, and for many years after the rallying cry of the United Irishmen was: “Remember Orr.”
Orr is regarded as the first United Irish martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
.
William Drennan
William Drennan
William Drennan ,a physician, poet, educationalist and political radical, was one of the chief architects of the Society of United Irishmen...
the United Irishmen poet wrote, on Orr's death:
hapless land!
Heap of uncementing sand!
Crumbled by a foreign weight:
And, by worse, domestic hate.