Those of us with an interest in Irish history often read about many an Irish Revolutionary. The English held onto Ireland for 8 centuries. The Brits treated the Irish so poorly there were many attempts to throw off the English yoke. Finally in 1916 some of those Irish Revolutionaries had partial success.

By the way, the label does depend on your perspective. To those who believed Ireland should rule itself and the Irish should have rights, these men were Irish Revolutionaries. If you were English or believed England should rule the Irish, these men were rebels or traitors.

So this Irish Revolutionary is Thomas Francis Meagher. The last name is pronounced “Mar”. We Americans are more used to the spelling “Maher” .

What makes this Irish Revolutionary different from many others who deserve the title?

I just finished reading The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero by Timothy Egan. Egan tells the story of Thomas Francis Meagher well and I am glad I read the book.

Egan starts us with a short bit about the death of Meagher. Then starts the telling of the events leading up to that death.

Of course, you cannot understand Thomas Francis Meagher without knowing a bit of Irish history and knowing a bit about his family. Timothy Egan does a wonderful job in explaining the Ireland of Meagher’s time and his family.

Thomas Francis Meagher was raised a gentleman. His family was rich. His father was a member of Parliament. The easy and pleasant life of the gentleman was surely ahead. But it was not to be.

Read and enjoy as Thomas Francis Meagher goes from a “Young Ireland” peaceful Irish Revolutionary to violent revolutionary to prisoner in a Tasmanian penal colony to Irish-American to Civil War general (American Hero of Irish Brigade) to Acting Governor of Montana to victim of vigilante justice. Timothy Egan tells a great story. Enjoy!