The Fenian Invasion of CanadaJim Mayer

“We are the Fenian Brotherhood, skilled in the arts of war,

And we're going to fight for Ireland, the land we adore,

Many battles we have won, along with the boys in blue,

And we'll go and capture Canada, for we've nothing else to

do."

-Fenian soldier's song

Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke

• Strongbow

• Invaded Ireland with his Archers in 1167

• Conquered Irish Chieftains around Dublin

• Claimed Ireland for Britain

Henry II - King of England

• 1169 Arrived at Waterford

• Took Lands from Strongbow

• Gives Lands Back to Strongbow

• Ireland Lost its Independence

Ireland in the 1840’s

• Potato Crop Failures

• Famine and Disease Took Their Toll

• One Million Left Between 1846 – 1857

• Population Declined by 1.5 Million

The Irish Come to America

• Came to Seek Economic Advantages

• 37,000 Irish Came to Boston in 1847

• NYC had 133,000 Irish by 1850

• Buffalo had about 10,000 Irish in 1850

Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848

• Nationalism and Rebellions Swept Europe in 1848

• William Smith O’Brien a Leader of the Young

Irelander Party

• Founded to Free Ireland From English Rule

• Thought it Could be a Bloodless rebellion

Revolt of 1848

• O’Brien Led A Group of Rebels Against The Police in Tipperary

• The Only Skirmish in the Revolt

• Two Rebels Were Killed by Police

• O’Brien was Sentenced to be Hung Drawn and Quartered

• Later Commuted to Exile in Tasmania

James Stephens & John O’Mahoney

James Stephens

• Made His Way Back to Ireland in 1856

• Did his 3000 Mile Walk Through Ireland

• Met up with Others From the Revolt of 1848

John O’Mahoney

• Came to New York City in 1854

• Took Part in the Emmet Monument Association and other Irish Organizations

• In 1857 He Sent a Message Back to Stephens

• Stephens Agreed Raise up a Force of 10,000 Men if the Emmet Monument Association would send Money to the IRB

• Upon O’Mahoney’s Agreement the Irish Republican Brotherhood was Formed

• O’Mahoney Founded the Fenian Brotherhood in America shortly thereafter

The Fenian Brotherhood

• In 1859 the American Branch of the IRB changed its name to the Fenian Brotherhood

• Started a Weekly Newspaper to Recruit Members and Raise Money

• Organized into Circles – O’Mahoney is Head Center• Circles for each State and smaller Circles within the

State• Circles Appeared in New England states, New York,

Midwest, Great Lakes region

The Movement of ‘65

• Going to strike a blow for Freedom on the Emerald Isle

• Fenian Brotherhood raised about $200,000 along with arms and ammunition

• The ship Erin’s Hope was crossing the Atlantic with the weapons

• September 14, 1865, the English authorities took the ship and raided the offices of the Irish Republican Brotherhood

• Effectively shut down the IRB and left the Fenian Brotherhood to as the dominant force for Irish Independence

The Irish Republic

• Cincinnati Convention of the FB held in 1865

• Representatives from every State• Gave up the idea of Military action in

Ireland itself• Organized FB to be the Irish Republic• Issued “Bank Notes” payable with interest

six months after the acknowledgement of “The Irish Free State”

Thomas William Sweeny

• Born 1820 in Cork Ireland

• Fought in Mexican-American War

• General in Union Army in Civil War

• Secretary of War for the Fenian Brotherhood

• Planned the Invasion of Canada

Col. John O’Neil

• Born March 8, 1834 in Ireland

• Came to America in 1848

• Joined US 2nd Calvary in 1857

• Veteran of the Civil War

The Invasion

A Buffalo Fenian Funeral