http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=knRJAAAAMAAJ&dq=valleye+yore&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=i7NKlFoIY0&sig=y9Bv_gvT2ayLQJA7fkuOsf89saQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result
Transcripts talking about Yore River name :
"In this district a variety of scenery exists, unsurpassed in beauty by any in England. Mountains, clothed at their summits with purple heather interspersed with huge crags, and at their bases with luxuriant herbage, bound the view on either hand. Down the valley's centre flows the winding Yore, one of the most serpentine rivers our island boasts ; now boiling and foaming in a narrow channel over sheets of limestone—now forming cascades only equalled by the cataracts of the Nile—and anon spreading out into a broad smooth stream, as calm and placid as a lowland lake. On the banks lie rich pastures, occasionly relieved at the eastern extremity of the valley by cornfields. Other streams, mere mountain torrents, increase the waters of the Yore during their course; and below Ulshaw, in the lands of East Witton, the Cover, which gives name to an adjacent dale, becomes united with them.
The briefest, but perhaps the best historian of Wensleydale, Maude, after speaking of the Yore being differently named Ure, Eure, and Jore—losing its title below Borough- bridge, where it receives the insignificant Ouse—and when afterwards augmented by the Derwent becoming the mighty Humber—justly says of its changed appellation, that it" is a circumstance that provokes the poet's ire and exclamation. At what period this reform took place, we have not been able to determine; but there is a strong presumption that the river which now washes the walls of York, was anciently called Eure or Yore, whence the city seems to have derived its name;" as also did the county.
"Long before, Leland had been puzzled as to where the Isis and the Ure mingled their waters. In reality, the Yore was the Roman Tsis.
Michael Drayton in his " Polyolbion" makes " the proud North Riding" call Yore her "sovereign flood," and reproachfully speak of the waters of the West, because they only unite with hers when she no longer needs them, adding of the northern streams—
-for my greater grace
These floods of whieh I speak, I now intend to trace
From their first springing founts, beginning with the Your,
From Morvil's mighty foot which rising with the power
That Bant from Sea-mere brings, her somewhat more doth fill,
Near Bishops-dale at hand, when Cover, a clear rill,
Next cometh into Your, whereas that lusty chase,
For her loved Cover's sake, doth lovingly embrace
Your as she yields along, amongst the parks and groves,
In Middleham's amorous eye, as wand'ringly she rovos."
No epithet could possibly be selected more applicable to the Yore than " wandering,."(2)
"I have invariably adopted, "Yore," as the most correct orthography, tut it is proper to observe, that much controversy has arisen at different periods, on this subject. In October, 1847, a writer in the " Leeds Mercury," signing himself " Clerlcus," maintained that the Romaus named the river " Urus," as being descriptive of the stream's rapidity, especially when swollen from the west; the Latin word " Urus" signifying a beast like a bull, remarkable for tts swiftness, and therefore applicable to such a river. He proceeds—" this word has been written in three different forms: " Urus," the Romau name; the Saxon form of this would be written with the initial " J," rather from the sound than from the orthography. The latter form is seen in " Jervaulx," and still more evidently in the inscriptions on tombs in that Abbey, as " Jorevallis." The termination " vallis" has been changed into the Norman form "vaulx," or "vaux." When again,we have the third form "Yore," as in "York," we have merely another mode of spelling "Jore," for the German pronunciation of "Jore" would be " Yore." Whan, therefore, the name " Ure" is given to the river, it is the Roman name ; and when it is called " Yore," it is actually the more modern manner of spelling the Saxon form of the first name. Roman, "Urns;" Saxon, "Jore;" modern, " Yore." W. Hylton Longstaffe, Esq., says he adopts " Eure" for many reasons. Ure is inelegant, and does not show how it was that (by a similar conversion to that which so frequently converted the family name of Eure into Ever, both in spelling and pronunciation) this noble river gave the name to Eboracum, Everwik or York, as well as to Isurium or Aldborough. Yore is neither ancient nor modern, it wants the e of the ancient varieties, and is not used by the Tudor topographers."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
River Yore "Ure" on Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Ure
River Ure
Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale
Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale
Origin Ure Head, Abbotside Common
Mouth River Ouse, Cuddy Shaw Reach (near Linton-on-Ouse)
Basin countries England
Source elevation 640 m (2100 ft)
The River Ure is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only one of the famous Yorkshire Dales now named after a village rather than its river. The old name for the valley derived from the river name was Yoredale.
The Ure is sometimes said to be a tributary of the River Ouse, but the transition is usually regarded as a change of name, rather than the start of a new river.
Tributaries include the River Swale and the River Skell.
The name may have come from the Viking word for good fertile earth.[citation needed] Alternatively, it may have originally been called Jor, later Yore.
The Old Celtic word for Ure was 'Isara' which evolved into 'Isure', 'Isurium', 'Isis' and finally into the Saxon,'Ouse'- possibly explaining the changing name of the river.[1]
See also: Wensleydale
The first notable attraction near the Ure is the National Park Centre near Hawes; a few miles to the east the river goes over the beautiful Aysgarth Falls. The river then passes Middleham Castle and then the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. Next the river passes through the village of Masham which is home to the famous Theakston Brewery. The following attractions are Marmion Tower at West Tanfield and Norton Conyers.
The river then passes through the east edge of the historic City of Ripon, where it is joined by the River Skell. Ripon Cathedral is one of the finest in the country. The river then flows past Newby Hall and the ancient monuments known as the Devil's Arrows. The Ure is bridged by the A1(M) motorway just to the west of the town of Boroughbridge.
To the east of Boroughbridge, the Ure is joined by the River Swale. About 6 miles downstream of this confluence, at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, the river changes its name to the River Ouse.
List of settlements on the River Ure
* Hawes
* Bainbridge
* Worton
* Aysgarth
* Wensley
* Middleham
* Masham
* Mickley
* West Tanfield
* Nunwick
* Hutton Conyers
* Ripon
* Roecliffe
* Boroughbridge
* Lower Dunsforth
* Aldwark
River Ure
Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale
Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale
Origin Ure Head, Abbotside Common
Mouth River Ouse, Cuddy Shaw Reach (near Linton-on-Ouse)
Basin countries England
Source elevation 640 m (2100 ft)
The River Ure is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only one of the famous Yorkshire Dales now named after a village rather than its river. The old name for the valley derived from the river name was Yoredale.
The Ure is sometimes said to be a tributary of the River Ouse, but the transition is usually regarded as a change of name, rather than the start of a new river.
Tributaries include the River Swale and the River Skell.
The name may have come from the Viking word for good fertile earth.[citation needed] Alternatively, it may have originally been called Jor, later Yore.
The Old Celtic word for Ure was 'Isara' which evolved into 'Isure', 'Isurium', 'Isis' and finally into the Saxon,'Ouse'- possibly explaining the changing name of the river.[1]
See also: Wensleydale
The first notable attraction near the Ure is the National Park Centre near Hawes; a few miles to the east the river goes over the beautiful Aysgarth Falls. The river then passes Middleham Castle and then the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. Next the river passes through the village of Masham which is home to the famous Theakston Brewery. The following attractions are Marmion Tower at West Tanfield and Norton Conyers.
The river then passes through the east edge of the historic City of Ripon, where it is joined by the River Skell. Ripon Cathedral is one of the finest in the country. The river then flows past Newby Hall and the ancient monuments known as the Devil's Arrows. The Ure is bridged by the A1(M) motorway just to the west of the town of Boroughbridge.
To the east of Boroughbridge, the Ure is joined by the River Swale. About 6 miles downstream of this confluence, at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, the river changes its name to the River Ouse.
List of settlements on the River Ure
* Hawes
* Bainbridge
* Worton
* Aysgarth
* Wensley
* Middleham
* Masham
* Mickley
* West Tanfield
* Nunwick
* Hutton Conyers
* Ripon
* Roecliffe
* Boroughbridge
* Lower Dunsforth
* Aldwark
River "Ure" "Yore" Mill
http://www.thedales.org.uk/YoreMillAysgarth
Yore Mill Aysgarth
Aysgarth Mill early 1900s
Yore Mill is a four-storey, Grade II listed building, built in 1784 by Birkbecks from Settle. It is of considerable historical interest, being one of the earliest examples of 'industrialisation' in a rural setting.
Its situation made great use of the river, the adjacent pathway and footbridge, originally built in 1539 for packhorses. Of these, most important was the water flow of the River Ure that runs alongside. Water flows from the river by way of a stone race at the upper of three large waterfalls. The race channels the water behind the Mill, originally to turn a water wheel that drove the mechanisms within the building. The site is gazed over by St Andrew's, a mediaeval church site dating from AD 1000.
Originally, the Mill, built by the Birkbeck family of Settle in Yorkshire, served as a cotton mill. In 1852 the Mill burned down and the interior was destroyed. It was rebuilt the following year, an extra storey high and twice the original length and width. The upper storeys accommodated carding and spinning of knitting yarn. This finished in 1870.
The worsted produced at the mill was given out to knitters in the dale to make into stockings and jerseys.
When machine goods came in, over seven thousand of the jerseys were left on the hands of the knitters for several years. Eventually they were dyed and sent to Italy to become redcoats for Garibaldi's' army.
This finished in 1870. In the lower storey corn grinding continued until after the second World War. The Mill was converted in 1912 into a flour-rolling plant, and in 1937 two Gilks and Gilchrist water turbines, that are still in place, replaced the water wheel, and the latest milling machinery was installed. Flour production ceased in 1958 and the Mill was used as a cattle food depot until it changed ownership in 1969.
1964
The mill then became home to the Carriage Museum.
The old mill at Aysgarth Bridge was burnt down in 1852, when the present large building was erected. In the earlier part of this century a portion of the mill premises was occupied for school purposes, and was known as the Yore Mills Academy.
The Academy was established by John Drummond, a man of great scholarship, who was lineally descended from the unfortunate Earls of Perth, who lost their estates through being implicated in the Stuart rebellion last century.
Drummond's grandfather, fled from Scotland and secreted himself some time in Bishopdale, and his family afterwards settled in this neighbourhood. His father was for many years parish clerk, and he himself, in addition to his school duties, filled the same position for a long period.
As a schoolmaster John Drummonds attainments were undoubtedly considerable, and much in advance of his time; as a mathematician he was widely known, and had few equals. He was also a skilled land-surveyor, and an accomplished artist and engraver.
He was a member of the Bristol Mathematical Society, and three years in succession he won the first prize (which no-one else ever achieved) for mathematical problems originated by that society.
He was a man of exceptionally robust habits, and it is said that on the occasion of the last contest he did not undress for three days and three nights, so keen was he to maintain the success of his previous achievements. He lived to a good old age, and was married, but died childless.
YORE MILL TODAY
Bric-a-Brac and more at Yore Mill...
Yore Mill is a 4-storey, Grade II listed, high-profile building.
Built in 1784, it is of considerable historical interest, being one of the earlier examples of industrialisation in a rural setting, due to the power of the River Ure and its spectacular falls.
Water is drawn from the river by way of a stone race that is unchanged to this day.
Yore Mill Aysgarth
Aysgarth Mill early 1900s
Yore Mill is a four-storey, Grade II listed building, built in 1784 by Birkbecks from Settle. It is of considerable historical interest, being one of the earliest examples of 'industrialisation' in a rural setting.
Its situation made great use of the river, the adjacent pathway and footbridge, originally built in 1539 for packhorses. Of these, most important was the water flow of the River Ure that runs alongside. Water flows from the river by way of a stone race at the upper of three large waterfalls. The race channels the water behind the Mill, originally to turn a water wheel that drove the mechanisms within the building. The site is gazed over by St Andrew's, a mediaeval church site dating from AD 1000.
Originally, the Mill, built by the Birkbeck family of Settle in Yorkshire, served as a cotton mill. In 1852 the Mill burned down and the interior was destroyed. It was rebuilt the following year, an extra storey high and twice the original length and width. The upper storeys accommodated carding and spinning of knitting yarn. This finished in 1870.
The worsted produced at the mill was given out to knitters in the dale to make into stockings and jerseys.
When machine goods came in, over seven thousand of the jerseys were left on the hands of the knitters for several years. Eventually they were dyed and sent to Italy to become redcoats for Garibaldi's' army.
This finished in 1870. In the lower storey corn grinding continued until after the second World War. The Mill was converted in 1912 into a flour-rolling plant, and in 1937 two Gilks and Gilchrist water turbines, that are still in place, replaced the water wheel, and the latest milling machinery was installed. Flour production ceased in 1958 and the Mill was used as a cattle food depot until it changed ownership in 1969.
1964
The mill then became home to the Carriage Museum.
The old mill at Aysgarth Bridge was burnt down in 1852, when the present large building was erected. In the earlier part of this century a portion of the mill premises was occupied for school purposes, and was known as the Yore Mills Academy.
The Academy was established by John Drummond, a man of great scholarship, who was lineally descended from the unfortunate Earls of Perth, who lost their estates through being implicated in the Stuart rebellion last century.
Drummond's grandfather, fled from Scotland and secreted himself some time in Bishopdale, and his family afterwards settled in this neighbourhood. His father was for many years parish clerk, and he himself, in addition to his school duties, filled the same position for a long period.
As a schoolmaster John Drummonds attainments were undoubtedly considerable, and much in advance of his time; as a mathematician he was widely known, and had few equals. He was also a skilled land-surveyor, and an accomplished artist and engraver.
He was a member of the Bristol Mathematical Society, and three years in succession he won the first prize (which no-one else ever achieved) for mathematical problems originated by that society.
He was a man of exceptionally robust habits, and it is said that on the occasion of the last contest he did not undress for three days and three nights, so keen was he to maintain the success of his previous achievements. He lived to a good old age, and was married, but died childless.
YORE MILL TODAY
Bric-a-Brac and more at Yore Mill...
Yore Mill is a 4-storey, Grade II listed, high-profile building.
Built in 1784, it is of considerable historical interest, being one of the earlier examples of industrialisation in a rural setting, due to the power of the River Ure and its spectacular falls.
Water is drawn from the river by way of a stone race that is unchanged to this day.
War-Yore : A Marvel Comics Superhero
http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/waryor.htm
WAR-YORE
Real Name: Eric Slaughter
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: MI-6 agent, psychopath
Affiliations: MI-6
Enemies: Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, Clive Reston, Black Jack Tarr
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Robin of Locksley, Attila the Hun, St. George, the Black Ninja, the Red Baron, "Scourge of God" (while Attila the Hun), Robin Hood (while Robin of Locksley), "Slayer of Darkness" (while Black Ninja), Manfred Freiherr Von Richthofen (while Red Baron), Hrolf Kraki
Base of Operations: a castle in England
First Appearance: Master of Kung Fu#54 (July, 1977)
Powers: War-Yore possessed no superhuman abilities; in each of his guises, he would wield advanced technology based on primitive weapons; as Robin of Locksley, he wielded a crossbow armed with explosive arrows, and an electrically-charged sword; as Attila the Hun, he wielded a dagger containing knock-out gas in its pommel, a mace covered with glass studs containing acid, and a shield; as the Black Ninja, he was armed with explosive shuriken controlled by a homing device to locate targets and gloves equipped with claws; as the Red Baron, he flew a WWI triplane that fired laser beams capable of slicing through metal and a laser pistol; as St. George, he wielded a lance that could fire laser beams, and another sword charged with electricity; as War-Yore, he wielded Attila the Hun's mace, the Black Ninja's gloves, an axe, and Robin of Locksley's crossbow.
Weaknesses: War-Yore's insanity could often leave him dazed and vulnerable, so submerged in his fantasies that he would be uncertain of his own identity.
History: (Master of Kung Fu#54 (fb))- Eric Slaughter was once a timid, overweight, non-violent office worker, employed by MI-6, who was fascinated by "the art of strife", and the great warriors of the past. MI-6 subjected him to experimental treatments to create "the perfect optimum-danger operative", but the brainwashing methods drove him insane. Having lost his own identity, he "became" the many warriors he had been fascinated with, including St. George, Robin of Locksley, the Red Baron, Attila the Hun, and the Black Ninja. Dubbing him "War-Yore", MI-6 soon found the perfect assignment for him-- recently, four MI-6 agents (Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr) had quit the agency, and MI-6 felt they could no longer be trusted to keep their secrets. Because War-Yore was insane, he was chosen to eliminate them, so that even if something went wrong, his actions could be safely disavowed.
(Master of Kung Fu#54)- In the guise of Robin of Locksley, War-Yore attacked Clive Reston at his flat. Impatient, he fired an explosive arrow at Reston's door before he could open it. He fought savagely against Reston, but when Reston took up his gun, War-Yore fled into the night. Reston pursued, but lost him in a park.
In the guise of Attila the Hun, War-Yore made an attempt on Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu. Although he could not defeat Shang-Chi, he knocked out Leiko, and stole away with her while Shang was distracted with protecting bystanders.
(Master of Kung Fu#56)- In the guise of St. George, War-Yore menaced Leiko in his castle, but began to lose his grip on the fantasy, shaking back into reality, and his true identity, Eric Slaughter. Leiko hoped he would return to normal, but at the sight of the costume of the Black Ninja, he returned to his fantasy world, and prepared for his next attempt.
Stealthily stealing into the Savoy Hotel, where Black Jack Tarr was living, he attacked Reston, Tarr and Shang. After a tremendous bout with Shang, he was defeated, and tied up. Although he had used different fighting styles as the Black Ninja, Shang recognized him as Attila, and began to suspect that all the men who had attacked them were the same person. While their backs were turned, War-Yore escaped his bonds and climbed out their window, without them realizing it. Returning to his castle, he took on the guise of the Red Baron, and returned to kill Reston, Shang and Tarr in his triplane.
(Master of Kung Fu#57)- While fighting Shang-Chi aboard his triplane, War-Yore shot at him with a laser pistol, destroying one of his plane's wings, and crashing the plane. However, he escaped again without being seen. Returning to the castle, he released Leiko in order to move her to a safer location, but she knocked him out, and escaped. Aware that his castle must be protected, War-Yore took upon his guise as St. George.
While pursuing Leiko through the castle, War-Yore spied Shang, Reston, and Tarr, who had learnt his identity from MI-6 files, and fought them over the draw-bridge of the castle. By now, the MI-6 agents assigned to work with War-Yore had had enough of his insanity; re-capturing Leiko, one of them threatened to kill her unless he and Shang-Chi stopped fighting.
(Master of Kung Fu#58)- Just then, more MI-6 agents arrived, and in the confusion, War-Yore shot the man guarding Leiko, took her in his arms, and fled into the castle dungeons. Knowing he would need all his strength to defeat his enemies, War-Yore merged all his guises into one-- what he considered to be his "true identity".
Leiko attempted to reason with War-Yore, and retrieve his true personality, but when Shang appeared, his resolve became firm, and he fought Shang, using several weapons at once. Knocked against the wall, he fumbled for his crossbow, just as Reston burst in, and shot him. War-Yore died, saying: "We're dead...all of us...Noooo...and poor Eric...never did learn which of us...he really was..."
In the aftermath, Leiko Wu was furious with Shang and Reston for attacking War-Yore, when he might have been saved.
Master of Kung Fu#55 was a fill-in, unconnected to the War-Yore storyline.
Schizophrenia and issues of identity are recurring themes in stories by Doug Moench, particularly in the characterizations of Shang-Chi, Werewolf by Night and Moon Knight. See also: Black Spectre, DePrayve, the Mad Slayer, Mordillo, and Xenos.
by Prime Eternal
Clarifications: War-Yore should not be confused with:
Eric Slaughter, Daredevil foe, @ Daredevil I#159
Georg Von Frankenstein, aka St. George, @ Savage Sword of Conan#22/2
St. George of Earth-Shadowline @ St. George#1
WAR-YORE
Real Name: Eric Slaughter
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: MI-6 agent, psychopath
Affiliations: MI-6
Enemies: Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, Clive Reston, Black Jack Tarr
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Robin of Locksley, Attila the Hun, St. George, the Black Ninja, the Red Baron, "Scourge of God" (while Attila the Hun), Robin Hood (while Robin of Locksley), "Slayer of Darkness" (while Black Ninja), Manfred Freiherr Von Richthofen (while Red Baron), Hrolf Kraki
Base of Operations: a castle in England
First Appearance: Master of Kung Fu#54 (July, 1977)
Powers: War-Yore possessed no superhuman abilities; in each of his guises, he would wield advanced technology based on primitive weapons; as Robin of Locksley, he wielded a crossbow armed with explosive arrows, and an electrically-charged sword; as Attila the Hun, he wielded a dagger containing knock-out gas in its pommel, a mace covered with glass studs containing acid, and a shield; as the Black Ninja, he was armed with explosive shuriken controlled by a homing device to locate targets and gloves equipped with claws; as the Red Baron, he flew a WWI triplane that fired laser beams capable of slicing through metal and a laser pistol; as St. George, he wielded a lance that could fire laser beams, and another sword charged with electricity; as War-Yore, he wielded Attila the Hun's mace, the Black Ninja's gloves, an axe, and Robin of Locksley's crossbow.
Weaknesses: War-Yore's insanity could often leave him dazed and vulnerable, so submerged in his fantasies that he would be uncertain of his own identity.
History: (Master of Kung Fu#54 (fb))- Eric Slaughter was once a timid, overweight, non-violent office worker, employed by MI-6, who was fascinated by "the art of strife", and the great warriors of the past. MI-6 subjected him to experimental treatments to create "the perfect optimum-danger operative", but the brainwashing methods drove him insane. Having lost his own identity, he "became" the many warriors he had been fascinated with, including St. George, Robin of Locksley, the Red Baron, Attila the Hun, and the Black Ninja. Dubbing him "War-Yore", MI-6 soon found the perfect assignment for him-- recently, four MI-6 agents (Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr) had quit the agency, and MI-6 felt they could no longer be trusted to keep their secrets. Because War-Yore was insane, he was chosen to eliminate them, so that even if something went wrong, his actions could be safely disavowed.
(Master of Kung Fu#54)- In the guise of Robin of Locksley, War-Yore attacked Clive Reston at his flat. Impatient, he fired an explosive arrow at Reston's door before he could open it. He fought savagely against Reston, but when Reston took up his gun, War-Yore fled into the night. Reston pursued, but lost him in a park.
In the guise of Attila the Hun, War-Yore made an attempt on Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu. Although he could not defeat Shang-Chi, he knocked out Leiko, and stole away with her while Shang was distracted with protecting bystanders.
(Master of Kung Fu#56)- In the guise of St. George, War-Yore menaced Leiko in his castle, but began to lose his grip on the fantasy, shaking back into reality, and his true identity, Eric Slaughter. Leiko hoped he would return to normal, but at the sight of the costume of the Black Ninja, he returned to his fantasy world, and prepared for his next attempt.
Stealthily stealing into the Savoy Hotel, where Black Jack Tarr was living, he attacked Reston, Tarr and Shang. After a tremendous bout with Shang, he was defeated, and tied up. Although he had used different fighting styles as the Black Ninja, Shang recognized him as Attila, and began to suspect that all the men who had attacked them were the same person. While their backs were turned, War-Yore escaped his bonds and climbed out their window, without them realizing it. Returning to his castle, he took on the guise of the Red Baron, and returned to kill Reston, Shang and Tarr in his triplane.
(Master of Kung Fu#57)- While fighting Shang-Chi aboard his triplane, War-Yore shot at him with a laser pistol, destroying one of his plane's wings, and crashing the plane. However, he escaped again without being seen. Returning to the castle, he released Leiko in order to move her to a safer location, but she knocked him out, and escaped. Aware that his castle must be protected, War-Yore took upon his guise as St. George.
While pursuing Leiko through the castle, War-Yore spied Shang, Reston, and Tarr, who had learnt his identity from MI-6 files, and fought them over the draw-bridge of the castle. By now, the MI-6 agents assigned to work with War-Yore had had enough of his insanity; re-capturing Leiko, one of them threatened to kill her unless he and Shang-Chi stopped fighting.
(Master of Kung Fu#58)- Just then, more MI-6 agents arrived, and in the confusion, War-Yore shot the man guarding Leiko, took her in his arms, and fled into the castle dungeons. Knowing he would need all his strength to defeat his enemies, War-Yore merged all his guises into one-- what he considered to be his "true identity".
Leiko attempted to reason with War-Yore, and retrieve his true personality, but when Shang appeared, his resolve became firm, and he fought Shang, using several weapons at once. Knocked against the wall, he fumbled for his crossbow, just as Reston burst in, and shot him. War-Yore died, saying: "We're dead...all of us...Noooo...and poor Eric...never did learn which of us...he really was..."
In the aftermath, Leiko Wu was furious with Shang and Reston for attacking War-Yore, when he might have been saved.
Master of Kung Fu#55 was a fill-in, unconnected to the War-Yore storyline.
Schizophrenia and issues of identity are recurring themes in stories by Doug Moench, particularly in the characterizations of Shang-Chi, Werewolf by Night and Moon Knight. See also: Black Spectre, DePrayve, the Mad Slayer, Mordillo, and Xenos.
by Prime Eternal
Clarifications: War-Yore should not be confused with:
Eric Slaughter, Daredevil foe, @ Daredevil I#159
Georg Von Frankenstein, aka St. George, @ Savage Sword of Conan#22/2
St. George of Earth-Shadowline @ St. George#1
Yore Opera House Fire
http://www3.gendisasters.com/michigan/10979/benton-harbor-mi-yore039s-opera-house-fire-sep-1896
Benton Harbor, MI Yore's Opera House Fire, Sep 1896
Posted January 13th, 2009 by Stu Beitler
Benton Harbor MI Opera House On Left.JPG Benton Harbor MI Opera House Memorial.jpg
ELEVEN FIREMEN KILLED.
CRUSHED BY THE WALLS OF YORE'S OPERA HOUSE.
A FIRE AT BENTON HARBOR, MICH., WHICH RESULTED IN A GREAT LOSS OF LIFE -- THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING FALL AS THE FIREMEN WERE AT WORK --FIFTEEN OF THEM BURIED BENEATH THEM, AND ONLY FOUR RESCUED WITH THEIR LIVES.
Benton Harbor, Mich., Sept. 6. -- Yore's Opera House and adjoining buildings were burned early this morning, causing the death of eleven firemen and injury to a number of others and entailing a loss of about $65,000.
The killed are:
EDWARD H. GANGE, married, St. Joseph.
ARTHUR C. HILL, married, St. Joseph.
LOUIS HOFFMAN, single, Benton Harbor.
JOHN HOFFMAN, married, Benton Harbor.
THOMAS KIDD, single, Benton Harbor.
WILL MATTEN, married, Benton Harbor.
SCOTT RICE, single, Benton Harbor.
ROBERT ROLFE, single, St. Joseph.
FRANK SEAVER, married, St. Joseph.
FRANK WATSON, married, St. Joseph.
FRANK WOODLEY, married, Benton Harbot.
The seriously injured are:
Ex-Fire Chief JOHN A. CRAWFORD, Benton Harbor; burned and overcome by heat and smoke.
WILLIAM FREUND, St. Joseph; cut about the head and burned.
JACK McCORMICK, Benton Harbor; legs broken and internally injured.
FRANK PAGET, St. Joseph; legs mashed by falling brick.
Several others were injured by falling walls, but will recover.
Shortly after midnight YORE'S Opera House, a large four-story brick structure, was discovered to be on fire. It had gained much headway before the alarm was given, and when the city firemen arrived the building was a mass of flames. The St. Joseph departments were sent for and arrived soon after. The fire continued to gain and was spreading to other buildings when the hook and ladder companies went to the rear of the building, hoping to be able to direct a stream into the mass of flames from a second-story window.
Hardly had they arrived there when the wall with a mighty crash came down upon them, burying fifteen men under the red-hot bricks. Other portions of the wall were wavering, and the rescue of the imprisoned firemen was deterred some time, as it was expected every moment the remainder of the wall would fall. Finally some of the crowd rushed into the mass to rescue the shrieking and struggling men. FRANK WATSON of St. Joseph was the first man reached, but he was dead and his body was a mass of broken bones and mangled flesh.
The search continued until 5 o'clock, when the last victim, ARTHUR HILL, was removed. They were carried to offices and private houses, where doctors from both cities were in waiting to render aid. Some of them died en route, and others while being cared for. The dead were taken to the City Hall, which was turned into a temporary morgue.
Some of the men were so badly mangled that identity was only had by letters and papers in their pockets.
After the falling of the rear wall the roof and other walls soon collapsed, one of the side walls falling upon a two-story brick building owned by WILLIAM FRICK, completely demolishing it and its contents. The fire had not been confined alone to the Opera House, but had crept across the alley, and soon the rears of the two-story buildings were aflame. The fire, however, was gotten under control before it reached the main part of the buildings.
The loss to PATRICK YORE on the Opera House Block is $40,000; insurance, $19,000. WILLIAM FRICK, brick block and stock of shoes, $10,000; Evening News plant, $3,000; J. A. SIMON, scenery in opera house, $500; S. M. AUSTIN, building and grocery stock, $2,000; D. HUNT, building and grocery stock, $1,000.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but GUY PRESCOTT, who stated today that he knew how the fire started but was not going to give any one away, was arrested. The wardrobe of the KATIE PUTNAM company, which gave a performance for the benefit of the firemen in the evening, was burned. The two cities, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, are draped in mourning in honor of their dead. The funerals will be held together Tuesday.
The New York Times New York 1896-09-07
__________________
Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!
Benton Harbor, MI Yore's Opera House Fire, Sep 1896
Posted January 13th, 2009 by Stu Beitler
Benton Harbor MI Opera House On Left.JPG Benton Harbor MI Opera House Memorial.jpg
ELEVEN FIREMEN KILLED.
CRUSHED BY THE WALLS OF YORE'S OPERA HOUSE.
A FIRE AT BENTON HARBOR, MICH., WHICH RESULTED IN A GREAT LOSS OF LIFE -- THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING FALL AS THE FIREMEN WERE AT WORK --FIFTEEN OF THEM BURIED BENEATH THEM, AND ONLY FOUR RESCUED WITH THEIR LIVES.
Benton Harbor, Mich., Sept. 6. -- Yore's Opera House and adjoining buildings were burned early this morning, causing the death of eleven firemen and injury to a number of others and entailing a loss of about $65,000.
The killed are:
EDWARD H. GANGE, married, St. Joseph.
ARTHUR C. HILL, married, St. Joseph.
LOUIS HOFFMAN, single, Benton Harbor.
JOHN HOFFMAN, married, Benton Harbor.
THOMAS KIDD, single, Benton Harbor.
WILL MATTEN, married, Benton Harbor.
SCOTT RICE, single, Benton Harbor.
ROBERT ROLFE, single, St. Joseph.
FRANK SEAVER, married, St. Joseph.
FRANK WATSON, married, St. Joseph.
FRANK WOODLEY, married, Benton Harbot.
The seriously injured are:
Ex-Fire Chief JOHN A. CRAWFORD, Benton Harbor; burned and overcome by heat and smoke.
WILLIAM FREUND, St. Joseph; cut about the head and burned.
JACK McCORMICK, Benton Harbor; legs broken and internally injured.
FRANK PAGET, St. Joseph; legs mashed by falling brick.
Several others were injured by falling walls, but will recover.
Shortly after midnight YORE'S Opera House, a large four-story brick structure, was discovered to be on fire. It had gained much headway before the alarm was given, and when the city firemen arrived the building was a mass of flames. The St. Joseph departments were sent for and arrived soon after. The fire continued to gain and was spreading to other buildings when the hook and ladder companies went to the rear of the building, hoping to be able to direct a stream into the mass of flames from a second-story window.
Hardly had they arrived there when the wall with a mighty crash came down upon them, burying fifteen men under the red-hot bricks. Other portions of the wall were wavering, and the rescue of the imprisoned firemen was deterred some time, as it was expected every moment the remainder of the wall would fall. Finally some of the crowd rushed into the mass to rescue the shrieking and struggling men. FRANK WATSON of St. Joseph was the first man reached, but he was dead and his body was a mass of broken bones and mangled flesh.
The search continued until 5 o'clock, when the last victim, ARTHUR HILL, was removed. They were carried to offices and private houses, where doctors from both cities were in waiting to render aid. Some of them died en route, and others while being cared for. The dead were taken to the City Hall, which was turned into a temporary morgue.
Some of the men were so badly mangled that identity was only had by letters and papers in their pockets.
After the falling of the rear wall the roof and other walls soon collapsed, one of the side walls falling upon a two-story brick building owned by WILLIAM FRICK, completely demolishing it and its contents. The fire had not been confined alone to the Opera House, but had crept across the alley, and soon the rears of the two-story buildings were aflame. The fire, however, was gotten under control before it reached the main part of the buildings.
The loss to PATRICK YORE on the Opera House Block is $40,000; insurance, $19,000. WILLIAM FRICK, brick block and stock of shoes, $10,000; Evening News plant, $3,000; J. A. SIMON, scenery in opera house, $500; S. M. AUSTIN, building and grocery stock, $2,000; D. HUNT, building and grocery stock, $1,000.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but GUY PRESCOTT, who stated today that he knew how the fire started but was not going to give any one away, was arrested. The wardrobe of the KATIE PUTNAM company, which gave a performance for the benefit of the firemen in the evening, was burned. The two cities, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, are draped in mourning in honor of their dead. The funerals will be held together Tuesday.
The New York Times New York 1896-09-07
__________________
Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!
Michael Yore from Ireland b abt 1799
http://www.gencircles.com/clubs/world/ireland/messages/read/163
Posted By: Cindy Dorfler-Hederer Date Posted: January 2, 2003 at 20:34:59
I have him from either the county of Meath or West Meath. Think his wife, Roseanna Farley, was from Meath but haven't been able to turn up any information on her yet. We think they had 2 of children when they left Ireland who were Peter and Mary. Michael immigrated in 1827 to New York on the John Adams ship but don't know exactly when she came. They were married abt 1823.They came to and lived in New York, then moved to Deerfield Illinois, USA.
We know our family group is related to the Yore's that settled in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan, USA about 1820's.
There are some also Yore's that we have been able to identify that are related that were in Chicago, Illinois around the mid 1800's also.
Cindy
Posted By: Cindy Dorfler-Hederer Date Posted: January 2, 2003 at 20:34:59
I have him from either the county of Meath or West Meath. Think his wife, Roseanna Farley, was from Meath but haven't been able to turn up any information on her yet. We think they had 2 of children when they left Ireland who were Peter and Mary. Michael immigrated in 1827 to New York on the John Adams ship but don't know exactly when she came. They were married abt 1823.They came to and lived in New York, then moved to Deerfield Illinois, USA.
We know our family group is related to the Yore's that settled in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan, USA about 1820's.
There are some also Yore's that we have been able to identify that are related that were in Chicago, Illinois around the mid 1800's also.
Cindy
Dad's Entry on Geneology.com
http://genforum.genealogy.com/yore/messages/13.html
Re: Barney & Charlotte YORE 1860 OHIO
Posted by: Michael G. Yore Date: November 20, 1999 at 19:35:42
In Reply to: Barney & Charlotte YORE 1860 OHIO by Lucy Yore of 89
My GGGF and sons were all from Co. Meath. The "Yore" name has been in that area for
many years, since the 1700's and by some accounts, since possibly 1200's or earlier.
I have nothing earlier than the late 1700's
that is concrete evidence. My GGGF came over
following his sons and daughter's in 1852,
didn't like it here and went back. That's
my problem. No references after he returned
to the old sod!!!! Most of our family came
thru NY and on towards Chicago. My direct
family put in here in St. Joseph, MI during
a storm and settled here in SW Michigan. They still made it to the Deerfield (Chicago)
area and married other ex-pats from Ireland.
My GGF married a Redmond from Co. Wexford, in
Everett, ILL. and came back to SJ to live.
I have heard of "Yore" family members in Ohio
but never had a means of contact. I have been entering data that I have been collecting for about 15 years or longer. I
will post it on-line when I complete what I
have to this point. So far I have entered between 900-1000 individuals in my FTM pro-gram.
Re: Barney & Charlotte YORE 1860 OHIO
Posted by: Michael G. Yore Date: November 20, 1999 at 19:35:42
In Reply to: Barney & Charlotte YORE 1860 OHIO by Lucy Yore of 89
My GGGF and sons were all from Co. Meath. The "Yore" name has been in that area for
many years, since the 1700's and by some accounts, since possibly 1200's or earlier.
I have nothing earlier than the late 1700's
that is concrete evidence. My GGGF came over
following his sons and daughter's in 1852,
didn't like it here and went back. That's
my problem. No references after he returned
to the old sod!!!! Most of our family came
thru NY and on towards Chicago. My direct
family put in here in St. Joseph, MI during
a storm and settled here in SW Michigan. They still made it to the Deerfield (Chicago)
area and married other ex-pats from Ireland.
My GGF married a Redmond from Co. Wexford, in
Everett, ILL. and came back to SJ to live.
I have heard of "Yore" family members in Ohio
but never had a means of contact. I have been entering data that I have been collecting for about 15 years or longer. I
will post it on-line when I complete what I
have to this point. So far I have entered between 900-1000 individuals in my FTM pro-gram.
Paddy Davitt
http://genforum.genealogy.com/yore/messages/7.html
Re: Peter YORE & Mary MULVANEY - Chicago, IL
Posted by: Paddy Davitt Date: September 21, 1999 at 13:09:49
In Reply to: Peter YORE & Mary MULVANEY - Chicago, IL by Virginia Figura of 89
Hello - my grandmother Mary Yore was born in St.Joseph Michigan in November 1861. Her father was John Yore (b.?) and her mother was Ellen Morgan. Ellen was killed in 1868 in St.J and John married again in or before 1874 when my grandmother went to live with her aunt in San Francisco. The Morgans and Yores were from Meath in Ireland and emigrated about the time of the famine. Benton harbour is near St.Joseph I think.
Re: Peter YORE & Mary MULVANEY - Chicago, IL
Posted by: Paddy Davitt Date: September 21, 1999 at 13:09:49
In Reply to: Peter YORE & Mary MULVANEY - Chicago, IL by Virginia Figura of 89
Hello - my grandmother Mary Yore was born in St.Joseph Michigan in November 1861. Her father was John Yore (b.?) and her mother was Ellen Morgan. Ellen was killed in 1868 in St.J and John married again in or before 1874 when my grandmother went to live with her aunt in San Francisco. The Morgans and Yores were from Meath in Ireland and emigrated about the time of the famine. Benton harbour is near St.Joseph I think.
Yores in Berrien
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/berrien/bcquery.htm#anchor40854
YORE, REDMOND: Seeking information abt. Patrick Yore b. 1830 who came from Ireland (most likely county Meath) and Catherine Redmond who settled and died in Benton Harbor, Michigan but were married in Lake County, Illinois. Catherine was a daughter of Michael Redmond b. 1792 and Catherine Sutton Redmond b. 1792 who immigrated to Lake Forest Lake County, Illinois, supposedly from County Wexford, Ireland. Patrick & Catherine Yore had 10 children: Thomas, Mary Ann, John, William, George P. (he married Effie Leonore Baxter), Richard, Catherine, James, Matthew (married a Margaret Byrne or Byrnes), Michael (he married Addie Percy). Catherine Redmond's brother, Thomas Redmond married a Mary Jane Yore of Deerfield, Illinois. A sister, Margaret Redmond married Thomas Yore of Deerfield, Illinois (they moved out to California after marrying in Illinois.
Also seeking information abt. Mathias Yore (County Meath, Ireland) who married Mary Bradley (we don't have any information abt. her) before 1822. Mathias Yore may have been a brother or cousin to the Michael Yore (b. 1798 possibly in County Meath) and RoseAnna Farley Yore (b. 1799 in Ireland) of Deerfield, Lake County, Illinois. Michael and Rose Anna Yore's son Matthew married Margaret Farley. We don't know what relationship she had to Roseanna Farley. We would like to know the Farley connection here. Thomas and Mary Jane Yore were children to Michael and Roseanna Farley Yore. We don't know where Michael and Roseanna married, possibly Ireland. We are trying to determine the connection of Michael in Lake Forest, Mathias William Yore of Benton Harbor. hederer93@austin.rr.com Posted 2002, Email updated 2007
YORE, REDMOND: Seeking information abt. Patrick Yore b. 1830 who came from Ireland (most likely county Meath) and Catherine Redmond who settled and died in Benton Harbor, Michigan but were married in Lake County, Illinois. Catherine was a daughter of Michael Redmond b. 1792 and Catherine Sutton Redmond b. 1792 who immigrated to Lake Forest Lake County, Illinois, supposedly from County Wexford, Ireland. Patrick & Catherine Yore had 10 children: Thomas, Mary Ann, John, William, George P. (he married Effie Leonore Baxter), Richard, Catherine, James, Matthew (married a Margaret Byrne or Byrnes), Michael (he married Addie Percy). Catherine Redmond's brother, Thomas Redmond married a Mary Jane Yore of Deerfield, Illinois. A sister, Margaret Redmond married Thomas Yore of Deerfield, Illinois (they moved out to California after marrying in Illinois.
Also seeking information abt. Mathias Yore (County Meath, Ireland) who married Mary Bradley (we don't have any information abt. her) before 1822. Mathias Yore may have been a brother or cousin to the Michael Yore (b. 1798 possibly in County Meath) and RoseAnna Farley Yore (b. 1799 in Ireland) of Deerfield, Lake County, Illinois. Michael and Rose Anna Yore's son Matthew married Margaret Farley. We don't know what relationship she had to Roseanna Farley. We would like to know the Farley connection here. Thomas and Mary Jane Yore were children to Michael and Roseanna Farley Yore. We don't know where Michael and Roseanna married, possibly Ireland. We are trying to determine the connection of Michael in Lake Forest, Mathias William Yore of Benton Harbor. hederer93@austin.rr.com Posted 2002, Email updated 2007
Michael Davitt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Davitt
Michael Davitt c. 1878
Michael Davitt (Irish name: Mícheál Mac Dáibhéid) (March 25, 1846 – May 30, 1906) was an Irish republican and nationalist agarian agitator, a social campaigner , labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, who founded the Irish National Land League.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Early years
* 2 Child labour
* 3 Fenians
* 4 The Land War
* 5 Travels and marriage
* 6 Labour Federation
* 7 Achievements
* 8 Legacy
* 9 Memory
* 10 Popular culture
* 11 Notes
* 12 Works
* 13 References
* 14 See also
* 15 External links
o 15.1 Institutions
[edit] Early years
Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo, Ireland, at the height of the Great Famine, the second of five children born to Martin and Catherine Davitt. They were of peasant origin, but Davitt’s father had a good education and could speak English and Irish. In 1850, when Michael was four and a half years old, his family was evicted from their home in Straide due to arrears in rent. They entered a local workhouse but when Catherine discovered that male children over 3 years of age had to be separated from their mothers, she promptly decided her family should travel to England to find a better life, like many Irish people at this time. They travelled to Dublin with another local family and in November reached Liverpool, making the 77 kilometre journey to Haslingden, in East Lancashire, by foot. There they settled. Davitt was brought up in the closed world of a poor Irish immigrant community with strong nationalist feelings and in his case a deep hatred of landlordism.
[edit] Child labour
After attending infant school the young Davitt began working at the age of nine as a labourer in a cotton mill but a month later he left and spent a short period working for Lawrence Whitaker, one of the leading cotton manufacturers in the district, before taking a job in Stellfoxe's Victoria Mill, near Baxenden. Here he was put to operate a spinning machine. On 8 May 1857 his right arm was entangled in a cogwheel and mangled so badly it had to be amputated. He did not receive any compensation.
When he recovered from his operation, a local benefactor, John Dean, helped to send him to a Wesleyan school, which was connected to the Methodist Church and where he received a good education. Although he was an Irish Catholic emigrant, he did not suffer any form of sectarian abuse. In 1861 at the age of 15 he went to work in a local post office, owned by Henry Cockcroft, who also ran a printing business. In spite of his injury he learned to be a typesetter. He was later promoted to letter carrier and book-keeper and worked for them for five years.
Around that time, Davitt started night classes at the local Mechanics Institute and used its library. He became interested in Irish history and the contemporary Irish social situation after coming under the influence of Ernest Charles Jones, the veteran Chartist leader, and his radical views on land nationalisation and Irish independence[1].
[edit] Fenians
In 1865, this interest led Davitt to join the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) which had strong support among working-class Irish immigrants . He soon became part of the inner circle of the local group. Two years later he left the printing firm to devote himself full time to the IRB, as organising secretary for Northern England and Scotland, organising arms smuggling to Ireland using his new job as "hawker" (travelling salesman) as cover for this activity.
Davitt was involved in a failed raid on Chester Castle to obtain arms on 11 February 1867 in advance of a Fenian rising in Ireland, but evaded the law. In the Haslingden area he helped to organise the defence of Catholic churches against Protestant attack in 1868. Having come to the attention of the police he was arrested in Paddington Station in London on 14 May 1870 while awaiting a delivery of arms. He was convicted of treason felony and sentenced to 15 years of penal servitude in Dartmoor Prison; Davitt felt that he had not had a fair trial or the best of defence. The trial is documented online.[1]
He was kept in solitary confinement and received very harsh treatment during the un-remitted portion of his term. In prison he concluded that ownership of the land by the people was the only solution to Ireland’s problems. He managed to get a covert contact to an Irish MP member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, John O'Connor Power, who began to campaign against cruelty inflicted on political prisoners. He often read Davitt's letters in the House of Commons, with his Party pressing for an amnesty for Irish nationalist prisoners. Partially due to public furore over his treatment, Davitt was released (along with other political prisoners) on 19 December 1877, when he had served seven and half years, on a "ticket of leave". He and the other prisoners were given a hero’s welcome on landing in Ireland.
Davitt rejoined the IRB and became a member of its Supreme Council. The British Government had introduced a concept of "fair rents" in the year of his arrest, but he continued to hold that the common people of Ireland could not improve their lot without the ownership of their land, and frequently insisted at Fenian meetings that "the land question can be definitely settled only by making the cultivators of the soil proprietors".
In 1873 while Davitt was imprisoned his mother and three sisters had settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1878 Davitt travelled to the United States in a lecture tour organised by John Devoy and the Fenians, hoping to gain the support of Irish-American communities for his new policy of "The Land for the People". He returned in 1879 to his native Mayo where he at once involved himself in land agitation.
[edit] The Land War
A Land League poster from the early 1880s
Davitt found that the West of Ireland was once again suffering near famine conditions. It was one of the wettest years on record and the potato crop had failed for the third successive year. Davitt organized a large meeting that attracted (by varying accounts) 4,000 to 13,000 people in Irishtown, County Mayo on 20 April. Davitt himself did not attend the meeting, presumably because he was on ticket-of-leave and did not want to risk being sent back to prison in England. He made plans for a huge campaign of agitation to reduce rents. The local target was a Roman Catholic priest, Canon Ulick Burke, who had threatened to evict his tenants. A campaign of non-payment pressured him to cancel the evictions and reduce his rents by 25%.
On 16 August 1879, the Land League of Mayo was formally founded in Castlebar, with the active support of Charles Stewart Parnell. Meetings were every Sunday. On October 21 it was superseded by the Irish National Land League. Parnell was made its President and Davitt was one of the secretaries. This united practically all the different strands of land agitation and land movements since the Tenant Right League of the 1850s under a single organization and, from then until 1882, the "Land War" in pursuance of the "Three Fs" (Fair Rent, Fixity of Tenure and Free Sale) was fought in earnest. The League organised resistance to evictions and reductions in rents, as well as aiding the work of relief agencies. Landlords' attempts to evict tenants led to violence, but the Land League denounced it.
One of the actions the Land League took during this period was the campaign of ostracism against the land agent Captain Charles Boycott in the autumn of 1880. This incident led to Boycott abandoning Ireland in December and coined the word boycott. In 1881 Davitt was again imprisoned for his outspoken speeches when he had accused chief secretary of Ireland W. E. Forster of "infamous lying". His ticket of leave was revoked and he was sent to Portland jail. Parnell protested loudly in the House of Commons and the Irish members protested so strongly that they were ejected from the House. The government passed the Irish Coercion Bill.
[edit] Travels and marriage
In an 1882 by-election Davitt was elected Member of Parliament for County Meath but was disqualified because he was in prison, where he had developed the theory that land nationalisation, and not peasant proprietorship, was the key to Ireland’s prosperity. Upon his release in 1882 he travelled to the United States with William Redmond to collect funds for the Land League, then campaigned for land nationalisation and an alliance between the British working class, Irish labourers and tenant farmers. This alienated Parnell and even many of the tenants, but after a meeting with Parnell at his house, Avondale, in September 1882 he agreed to co-operate with Parnell and set aside his plans for land nationalisation.
Davitt’s support of the Irish National League, now under Parnell’s and the Party’s control, earned him a final spell in prison in 1883, and by 1885 his health had broken. Although only in his forties he had become a post-revolutionary figure and began lecturing on humanitarian issues in extended tours which included Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Africa, the Holy Land, South America, Russia and most of continental Europe including almost every part of Ireland and Britain. In 1886 Davitt married Mary (b. 1861), daughter of John Yore of St. Joseph, Michigan, United States. In 1887 he then visited Wales to support land agitation[1]. The couple returned to Ireland and lived for a while in the Land League Cottage in Ballybrack, County Dublin that was given to them as a wedding gift by the people of Ireland. They had five children, three boys and two girls, though one, Kathleen, died of tuberculosis aged seven, in 1895.
Despite his differences with Parnell on the land question, he was a strong supporter of the alliance between the Liberal Party and the Irish Parliamentary Party and maintained this position in 1890 when the party split over Parnell's divorce case. Davitt, however, sided with the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation faction in the House of Commons at Westminster, where he became very hostile towards Parnell and was one of his most vociferous critics. He also became increasingly impatient with what he saw as the inability or unwillingness of Parliament to right injustice.
[edit] Labour Federation
To further those ends he founded and edited a journal, Labour World, in September 1890, then initiated in January 1891 in Cork the Irish Democratic Labour Federation, an organisation which adopted an advanced social programme including proposals for free education, land settlement, worker housing, reduced working hours, labour political representation and universal suffrage. The Federation reflected his conviction, to which he adhered to all his life, that peasant land proprietorship must go hand in hand with land nationalisation.
Davitt was subsequently elected for North Meath in the 1892 general election, for North East Cork in 1893 and for South Mayo in the 1895 general election. He welcomed Gladstone's Second Home Rule Bill as a "pact of peace" between England and Ireland [1]. He supported the British Labour leader Keir Hardie and favoured the foundation of a Labour Party, but his commitment to the |Liberal Party for the sake of Home Rule prevented him joining the new party – resulting in a breach with Hardie lasting until 1905[2].
Davitt left the Commons in 1896 with a prediction that no just cause could succeed there unless backed by massed agitation. Parliament alleviated this need by granting full democratic control of all local affairs, a form of "grass roots home rule", to County and District Councils under the 1898 Local Government (Ireland) Act. Davitt then co-founded in 1898 together with William O’Brien the United Irish League and organised it in Mayo and beyond. In 1899 he left his seat in parliament for good in protest against the Boer War, visiting South Africa to lend support to the Boer cause. His experiences inspired his Boer fight for Freedom, published in 1904.
Davitt’s ambition that the ownership of the land would be transferred from the landlords to the tenants finally materialised under O’Brien’s Wyndham Land Act (1903), but not as he had campaigned for. He condemned the act that offered generous inducement to the landlords to sell their estates to the tenants, the Irish Land Commission mediating to then collect land annuities instead of rents, on the grounds that landlords should not receive any compensation for land which Davitt felt belonged to the state. He never gave up his adherence to land nationalisation. Later in 1906 after the Liberal Party came to power, his open support for their policy of state control of schooling, rather than denominational education, merged into a major conflict between Davitt and the Irish Catholic Church [3].
Davitt died in Elphis Hospital, Dublin on 30 May 1906, aged 60, from blood poisoning. The fact that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland attended the funeral was a public indication of the dramatic political journey this former Fenian prisoner had taken. The plan had been not to have a public funeral, and hence Davitt's body was brought quietly to the Carmelite Friary, Clarendon Street, Dublin. However, the next day over 20,000 people filed past his coffin. His remains were then taken by train to Foxford, County Mayo, and buried in the grounds of Straide Abbey at Straide (near Foxford), near where he was born.
[edit] Achievements
Michael Davitt's unceasing efforts were instrumental to future Irish Land Acts after the Gladstone First Land Act of 1870. The most important of these was the Land Act of 1881, which finally granted "the three Fs" under Davitt's "Irish Democratic Land Federation". The next stage was the 'Ashbourn Act (1885)'. The Ashbourne Act was the most effective land act as it offered tenants the choice to purchase their land from the government with a fixed rate, easy to pay back loan. Vast tracts of land were bought up by the government to be sold to tenants. This Act was passed by the Conservatives as an attempt to appease the Home Rule Party, although it failed to do so.
Davitt is commonly regarded as one of the founders of the British Labour Party; his support for socialism in his latter years was based on the premise that Ireland could only achieve independence with the support of the British working class. This, along with his call for land nationalisation, often made him much misunderstood in Ireland[2]. But he remained an inspiration for many others, such as for D.D. Sheehan's Irish Land and Labour Association (ILLA), and years later Mahatma Gandhi attributed the origin of his own mass movement of peaceful resistance in India to Davitt and the Land League.
Davitt was a frequent visitor to Scotland where he was closely associated with the crofters' struggles in the Highlands and Islands. He also urged the Irish immigrant population to integrate into the politics of their adopted country and in particular the infant Labour Movement rather than to pursue a particularly Irish agenda. In Glasgow, where he had a strong following, Davitt's prestige was attested to by the fact that he was invited to lay the centre-turf at Celtic Park at the time of the football club's inauguration in 1888. The turf was stolen overnight giving rise to a poem which began: "The curse of Cromwell blast the hand that stole the sod that Michael cut; May all his praties turn to sand - the crawling, thieving scut"!
Davitt was a brave and proud man; an ascetic who accepted no tribute for his work; on occasions impatient with those who disagreed with him; sometimes expecting too much from the farmers, as in 1885 when he described them responding in 'self-interest' rather than 'self-sacrifice’[1]. He supported himself with writing and lectures and as a journalist defended the underprivileged, in 1903 publishing the book Within the pale: The True Story of Anti-Semitic Persecutions in Russia. This was based on reports made by him to an American newspaper in 1903 on anti-Semitic outrages in Russia and travel to Russia to investigate the incident. A pogrom was initiated in the town of Kishinev in the Russian province of Bessarabia, resulting in 51 people being killed and over 500 injured.
[edit] Legacy
Extracts from an article to mark the centenary of Michael Davitt’s death[4]:
“ He was only 24 years when he was imprisoned as a convicted felon for terrorist activities. Yet, Davitt learned from such adversity while in prison. He came to the conclusion, as he records in his Leaves from a Prison Diary, that violence was self defeating, and that membership of an underground, armed conspiracy merely invited the counter-productive attention of State agents infiltrating the movement and recruiting informers.
These insights became the bedrock of Davitt’s conviction to become an apostle of non-violence, though he could use incendiary language on occasion and in further brushes with the law. Lastingly, however, he emerged as a symbol of human solidarity.
Pertinently, the historian Carla King, in her forward to Davitt’s Collected Writings 1868-1906, Edition Synapse, remarked that during seven years of a brutal prison regime, Davitt turned, with a greatness of soul and a power to forgive reminiscent of Nelson Mandela a century later, from physical force terrorist to a constitutional politician. Davitt inspired Mahatma Gandhi in his campaign against the British Empire.
”
“ Indeed, Davitt, the one-armed Irishman who spoke with a pronounced Lancashire accent, is best remembered in history books as a leading figure in the 19th century Home Rule movement, and especially for his role as a revolutionary founder of the Land League. Successive Land Acts passed by the House of Commons gave Irish tenants not just Davitt’s three Fs - fair rent, fixity of tenure and free sale – but allowed them to buy their land from oppressive, but mainly absentee landlords . That class was worn down by ‘Captain Boycott’. ”
“ While Parnell was venerated posthumously as a martyr, Davitt was excorciated as a Judas. Remarkably, by 1916, just 10 years after his death, Davitt had been deliberately air-brushed out of the script for Irish freedom. ‘Republican’ Ireland declined to acknowledge him as among ‘the Greats’. Pearse did not assign Davitt a place in the Republican pantheon of Theobald Wolfe Tone, John Mitchel, Fintan Lalor – or even Parnell.
Insufficient attention has been paid to Davitt’s role as an ex-Fenian who took the road of peaceful, democratic politics by renouncing his Fenian oath and taking a seat in the House of Commons at Westminster. He (would have) totally excluded violence as a means of advancing Irish unification.
”
[edit] Memory
At Straide, Davitt's birthplace is now a museum that commemorates his life and works. A life-sized bronze statue stands before it. The bridge from Achill Island to the mainland is named after him. Over Davitt’s grave a Celtic Cross in his memory bears the awesome words ‘’Blessed is he that hungers and thirsts after justice, for he shall receive it’’.
The town of Haslingden has also commemorated Davitt's link with it through a public monument erected in the presence of Davitt's son. The inscription reads as follows:
"This memorial has been erected to perpetuate the memory of Michael Davitt with the town of Haslingden. It marks the site of the home of Michael Davitt, Irish patriot, who resided in Haslingden from 1853 to 1867. / He became a great world figure in the cause of freedom and raised his voice and pen on behalf of the oppressed, irrespective of race or creed, that serfdom be transformed to citizenship and that man be given the opportunity to display his God given talents for the betterment of mankind. / Born 1846, died 1906. / Erected by the Irish Democratic League Club, Haslingden (Davitt Branch)."
Haslingden also organised a 'Exile & Exiles' Festival in 2006 which did much to celebrate the life of Michael Davitt, as well as place it in the context of other immigrants to the community. This included 'The Jail Bird', a performance about Davitt, created by Horse and Bamboo Theatre with local school students.
Of the people cited as inspirations by northwest Mayo's Shell to Sea campaign, such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, Martin Luther King and Mohandas Gandhi, Davitt is the sole Irish person. On their release from prison, the Rossport Five laid a wreath at his grave in Straide.
[edit] Popular culture
* Irish folk musician Andy Irvine's 1996 Patrick Street song, "Forgotten Hero", is a tribute to Davitt. In addition, Irish-born musician Donal Maguire has recorded an album of songs based on Davitt's life, entitled Michael Davitt: The Forgotten Hero?.
* His death is discussed in James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
[edit] Notes
1. ^ a b c d Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press (2004)
2. ^ a b A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, p.105-105, D. J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty , Gill & MacMillan (2003) ISBN 0-7176-2520-3
3. ^ Biography "The long Gestation, Irish Nationalist Life 1891-1918" pps. 83, 225, Patrick Maume (1999)
4. ^ Michael Davitt: Still in the shadow of the gunmen, John Cooney, Irish Independent, May 27th 2006
[edit] Works
* Michael Davitt, The Prison Life of Michael Davitt (1878)
* Michael Davitt, Leaves from a Prison Diary (2 vols) (1885)
* Michael Davitt, Defence of the Land League (1891)
* Michael Davitt, Life and Progress in Australia (1895)
* Michael Davitt, Within the Pale, The True Story of Anti-Semitic Persecutions in Russia (1903)
* Michael Davitt, Boer fight for freedom (1904)
* Michael Davitt, The Fall of Feudalism in Ireland (1904) ISBN 1-59107-031-7
* Michael Davitt, Collected Writings, 1868-1906 Carla King (2001) ISBN 1-85506-648-3
* Michael Davitt, The "Times"-Parnell Commission: Speech delivered by Michael Davitt in defence of the Land League (1890)
[edit] References
* D.B. Cashman and Michael Davitt, The Life of Michael Davitt and the Secret History of The Land League (1881)
* Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, Michael Davitt : revolutionary, agitator and labour leader (1908, etc.)
* M.M. O'Hara, Chief and Tribune: Parnell and Davitt (1919)
* Carla King: Michael Davitt, Dundalk (1999)
* T. W. Moody: Davitt and Irish Revolution 1846-82, Oxford (1981)
* Kevin Haddick Flynn: Davitt - Land Warrior (History Today May 2006)
* Laurence Marley: Michael Davitt Four Courts Press (2007) ISBN 978-1-84682-006-3
[edit] See also
* List of people on stamps of Ireland
* Young Greens (Ireland) This youth party is chaired by Michael's great grandson, Ed.
[edit] External links
[edit] Institutions
* Michael Davitt Museum, County Mayo, Ireland
* The Irish Democratic Club, (Davitt Branch) in Haslingden, the town where Michael Davitt was brought up
Parliament of the United Kingdom
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Alexander Martin Sullivan Member of Parliament for Meath
1882 Succeeded by
Edward Sheil
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Pierce Mahony Member of Parliament for Meath North
1892 Succeeded by
James Gibney
Preceded by
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1893 Succeeded by
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Preceded by
Jeremiah Daniel Sheehan Member of Parliament for Kerry East
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James Boothby Burke Roche
Preceded by
James Francis Xavier O'Brien Member of Parliament for Mayo South
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Davitt"
Categories: 1846 births | 1906 deaths | Irish amputees | Land reform in Ireland | Irish journalists | Irish non-fiction writers | Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood | Irish Parliamentary Party MPs | Irish Nationalist politicians | Anti-Parnellite MPs | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Irish constituencies (1801-1922) | UK MPs 1880-1885 | UK MPs 1892-1895 | UK MPs 1895-1900 | British people of Irish descent | People from County Mayo
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Michael Davitt c. 1878
Michael Davitt (Irish name: Mícheál Mac Dáibhéid) (March 25, 1846 – May 30, 1906) was an Irish republican and nationalist agarian agitator, a social campaigner , labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, who founded the Irish National Land League.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Early years
* 2 Child labour
* 3 Fenians
* 4 The Land War
* 5 Travels and marriage
* 6 Labour Federation
* 7 Achievements
* 8 Legacy
* 9 Memory
* 10 Popular culture
* 11 Notes
* 12 Works
* 13 References
* 14 See also
* 15 External links
o 15.1 Institutions
[edit] Early years
Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo, Ireland, at the height of the Great Famine, the second of five children born to Martin and Catherine Davitt. They were of peasant origin, but Davitt’s father had a good education and could speak English and Irish. In 1850, when Michael was four and a half years old, his family was evicted from their home in Straide due to arrears in rent. They entered a local workhouse but when Catherine discovered that male children over 3 years of age had to be separated from their mothers, she promptly decided her family should travel to England to find a better life, like many Irish people at this time. They travelled to Dublin with another local family and in November reached Liverpool, making the 77 kilometre journey to Haslingden, in East Lancashire, by foot. There they settled. Davitt was brought up in the closed world of a poor Irish immigrant community with strong nationalist feelings and in his case a deep hatred of landlordism.
[edit] Child labour
After attending infant school the young Davitt began working at the age of nine as a labourer in a cotton mill but a month later he left and spent a short period working for Lawrence Whitaker, one of the leading cotton manufacturers in the district, before taking a job in Stellfoxe's Victoria Mill, near Baxenden. Here he was put to operate a spinning machine. On 8 May 1857 his right arm was entangled in a cogwheel and mangled so badly it had to be amputated. He did not receive any compensation.
When he recovered from his operation, a local benefactor, John Dean, helped to send him to a Wesleyan school, which was connected to the Methodist Church and where he received a good education. Although he was an Irish Catholic emigrant, he did not suffer any form of sectarian abuse. In 1861 at the age of 15 he went to work in a local post office, owned by Henry Cockcroft, who also ran a printing business. In spite of his injury he learned to be a typesetter. He was later promoted to letter carrier and book-keeper and worked for them for five years.
Around that time, Davitt started night classes at the local Mechanics Institute and used its library. He became interested in Irish history and the contemporary Irish social situation after coming under the influence of Ernest Charles Jones, the veteran Chartist leader, and his radical views on land nationalisation and Irish independence[1].
[edit] Fenians
In 1865, this interest led Davitt to join the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) which had strong support among working-class Irish immigrants . He soon became part of the inner circle of the local group. Two years later he left the printing firm to devote himself full time to the IRB, as organising secretary for Northern England and Scotland, organising arms smuggling to Ireland using his new job as "hawker" (travelling salesman) as cover for this activity.
Davitt was involved in a failed raid on Chester Castle to obtain arms on 11 February 1867 in advance of a Fenian rising in Ireland, but evaded the law. In the Haslingden area he helped to organise the defence of Catholic churches against Protestant attack in 1868. Having come to the attention of the police he was arrested in Paddington Station in London on 14 May 1870 while awaiting a delivery of arms. He was convicted of treason felony and sentenced to 15 years of penal servitude in Dartmoor Prison; Davitt felt that he had not had a fair trial or the best of defence. The trial is documented online.[1]
He was kept in solitary confinement and received very harsh treatment during the un-remitted portion of his term. In prison he concluded that ownership of the land by the people was the only solution to Ireland’s problems. He managed to get a covert contact to an Irish MP member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, John O'Connor Power, who began to campaign against cruelty inflicted on political prisoners. He often read Davitt's letters in the House of Commons, with his Party pressing for an amnesty for Irish nationalist prisoners. Partially due to public furore over his treatment, Davitt was released (along with other political prisoners) on 19 December 1877, when he had served seven and half years, on a "ticket of leave". He and the other prisoners were given a hero’s welcome on landing in Ireland.
Davitt rejoined the IRB and became a member of its Supreme Council. The British Government had introduced a concept of "fair rents" in the year of his arrest, but he continued to hold that the common people of Ireland could not improve their lot without the ownership of their land, and frequently insisted at Fenian meetings that "the land question can be definitely settled only by making the cultivators of the soil proprietors".
In 1873 while Davitt was imprisoned his mother and three sisters had settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1878 Davitt travelled to the United States in a lecture tour organised by John Devoy and the Fenians, hoping to gain the support of Irish-American communities for his new policy of "The Land for the People". He returned in 1879 to his native Mayo where he at once involved himself in land agitation.
[edit] The Land War
A Land League poster from the early 1880s
Davitt found that the West of Ireland was once again suffering near famine conditions. It was one of the wettest years on record and the potato crop had failed for the third successive year. Davitt organized a large meeting that attracted (by varying accounts) 4,000 to 13,000 people in Irishtown, County Mayo on 20 April. Davitt himself did not attend the meeting, presumably because he was on ticket-of-leave and did not want to risk being sent back to prison in England. He made plans for a huge campaign of agitation to reduce rents. The local target was a Roman Catholic priest, Canon Ulick Burke, who had threatened to evict his tenants. A campaign of non-payment pressured him to cancel the evictions and reduce his rents by 25%.
On 16 August 1879, the Land League of Mayo was formally founded in Castlebar, with the active support of Charles Stewart Parnell. Meetings were every Sunday. On October 21 it was superseded by the Irish National Land League. Parnell was made its President and Davitt was one of the secretaries. This united practically all the different strands of land agitation and land movements since the Tenant Right League of the 1850s under a single organization and, from then until 1882, the "Land War" in pursuance of the "Three Fs" (Fair Rent, Fixity of Tenure and Free Sale) was fought in earnest. The League organised resistance to evictions and reductions in rents, as well as aiding the work of relief agencies. Landlords' attempts to evict tenants led to violence, but the Land League denounced it.
One of the actions the Land League took during this period was the campaign of ostracism against the land agent Captain Charles Boycott in the autumn of 1880. This incident led to Boycott abandoning Ireland in December and coined the word boycott. In 1881 Davitt was again imprisoned for his outspoken speeches when he had accused chief secretary of Ireland W. E. Forster of "infamous lying". His ticket of leave was revoked and he was sent to Portland jail. Parnell protested loudly in the House of Commons and the Irish members protested so strongly that they were ejected from the House. The government passed the Irish Coercion Bill.
[edit] Travels and marriage
In an 1882 by-election Davitt was elected Member of Parliament for County Meath but was disqualified because he was in prison, where he had developed the theory that land nationalisation, and not peasant proprietorship, was the key to Ireland’s prosperity. Upon his release in 1882 he travelled to the United States with William Redmond to collect funds for the Land League, then campaigned for land nationalisation and an alliance between the British working class, Irish labourers and tenant farmers. This alienated Parnell and even many of the tenants, but after a meeting with Parnell at his house, Avondale, in September 1882 he agreed to co-operate with Parnell and set aside his plans for land nationalisation.
Davitt’s support of the Irish National League, now under Parnell’s and the Party’s control, earned him a final spell in prison in 1883, and by 1885 his health had broken. Although only in his forties he had become a post-revolutionary figure and began lecturing on humanitarian issues in extended tours which included Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Africa, the Holy Land, South America, Russia and most of continental Europe including almost every part of Ireland and Britain. In 1886 Davitt married Mary (b. 1861), daughter of John Yore of St. Joseph, Michigan, United States. In 1887 he then visited Wales to support land agitation[1]. The couple returned to Ireland and lived for a while in the Land League Cottage in Ballybrack, County Dublin that was given to them as a wedding gift by the people of Ireland. They had five children, three boys and two girls, though one, Kathleen, died of tuberculosis aged seven, in 1895.
Despite his differences with Parnell on the land question, he was a strong supporter of the alliance between the Liberal Party and the Irish Parliamentary Party and maintained this position in 1890 when the party split over Parnell's divorce case. Davitt, however, sided with the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation faction in the House of Commons at Westminster, where he became very hostile towards Parnell and was one of his most vociferous critics. He also became increasingly impatient with what he saw as the inability or unwillingness of Parliament to right injustice.
[edit] Labour Federation
To further those ends he founded and edited a journal, Labour World, in September 1890, then initiated in January 1891 in Cork the Irish Democratic Labour Federation, an organisation which adopted an advanced social programme including proposals for free education, land settlement, worker housing, reduced working hours, labour political representation and universal suffrage. The Federation reflected his conviction, to which he adhered to all his life, that peasant land proprietorship must go hand in hand with land nationalisation.
Davitt was subsequently elected for North Meath in the 1892 general election, for North East Cork in 1893 and for South Mayo in the 1895 general election. He welcomed Gladstone's Second Home Rule Bill as a "pact of peace" between England and Ireland [1]. He supported the British Labour leader Keir Hardie and favoured the foundation of a Labour Party, but his commitment to the |Liberal Party for the sake of Home Rule prevented him joining the new party – resulting in a breach with Hardie lasting until 1905[2].
Davitt left the Commons in 1896 with a prediction that no just cause could succeed there unless backed by massed agitation. Parliament alleviated this need by granting full democratic control of all local affairs, a form of "grass roots home rule", to County and District Councils under the 1898 Local Government (Ireland) Act. Davitt then co-founded in 1898 together with William O’Brien the United Irish League and organised it in Mayo and beyond. In 1899 he left his seat in parliament for good in protest against the Boer War, visiting South Africa to lend support to the Boer cause. His experiences inspired his Boer fight for Freedom, published in 1904.
Davitt’s ambition that the ownership of the land would be transferred from the landlords to the tenants finally materialised under O’Brien’s Wyndham Land Act (1903), but not as he had campaigned for. He condemned the act that offered generous inducement to the landlords to sell their estates to the tenants, the Irish Land Commission mediating to then collect land annuities instead of rents, on the grounds that landlords should not receive any compensation for land which Davitt felt belonged to the state. He never gave up his adherence to land nationalisation. Later in 1906 after the Liberal Party came to power, his open support for their policy of state control of schooling, rather than denominational education, merged into a major conflict between Davitt and the Irish Catholic Church [3].
Davitt died in Elphis Hospital, Dublin on 30 May 1906, aged 60, from blood poisoning. The fact that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland attended the funeral was a public indication of the dramatic political journey this former Fenian prisoner had taken. The plan had been not to have a public funeral, and hence Davitt's body was brought quietly to the Carmelite Friary, Clarendon Street, Dublin. However, the next day over 20,000 people filed past his coffin. His remains were then taken by train to Foxford, County Mayo, and buried in the grounds of Straide Abbey at Straide (near Foxford), near where he was born.
[edit] Achievements
Michael Davitt's unceasing efforts were instrumental to future Irish Land Acts after the Gladstone First Land Act of 1870. The most important of these was the Land Act of 1881, which finally granted "the three Fs" under Davitt's "Irish Democratic Land Federation". The next stage was the 'Ashbourn Act (1885)'. The Ashbourne Act was the most effective land act as it offered tenants the choice to purchase their land from the government with a fixed rate, easy to pay back loan. Vast tracts of land were bought up by the government to be sold to tenants. This Act was passed by the Conservatives as an attempt to appease the Home Rule Party, although it failed to do so.
Davitt is commonly regarded as one of the founders of the British Labour Party; his support for socialism in his latter years was based on the premise that Ireland could only achieve independence with the support of the British working class. This, along with his call for land nationalisation, often made him much misunderstood in Ireland[2]. But he remained an inspiration for many others, such as for D.D. Sheehan's Irish Land and Labour Association (ILLA), and years later Mahatma Gandhi attributed the origin of his own mass movement of peaceful resistance in India to Davitt and the Land League.
Davitt was a frequent visitor to Scotland where he was closely associated with the crofters' struggles in the Highlands and Islands. He also urged the Irish immigrant population to integrate into the politics of their adopted country and in particular the infant Labour Movement rather than to pursue a particularly Irish agenda. In Glasgow, where he had a strong following, Davitt's prestige was attested to by the fact that he was invited to lay the centre-turf at Celtic Park at the time of the football club's inauguration in 1888. The turf was stolen overnight giving rise to a poem which began: "The curse of Cromwell blast the hand that stole the sod that Michael cut; May all his praties turn to sand - the crawling, thieving scut"!
Davitt was a brave and proud man; an ascetic who accepted no tribute for his work; on occasions impatient with those who disagreed with him; sometimes expecting too much from the farmers, as in 1885 when he described them responding in 'self-interest' rather than 'self-sacrifice’[1]. He supported himself with writing and lectures and as a journalist defended the underprivileged, in 1903 publishing the book Within the pale: The True Story of Anti-Semitic Persecutions in Russia. This was based on reports made by him to an American newspaper in 1903 on anti-Semitic outrages in Russia and travel to Russia to investigate the incident. A pogrom was initiated in the town of Kishinev in the Russian province of Bessarabia, resulting in 51 people being killed and over 500 injured.
[edit] Legacy
Extracts from an article to mark the centenary of Michael Davitt’s death[4]:
“ He was only 24 years when he was imprisoned as a convicted felon for terrorist activities. Yet, Davitt learned from such adversity while in prison. He came to the conclusion, as he records in his Leaves from a Prison Diary, that violence was self defeating, and that membership of an underground, armed conspiracy merely invited the counter-productive attention of State agents infiltrating the movement and recruiting informers.
These insights became the bedrock of Davitt’s conviction to become an apostle of non-violence, though he could use incendiary language on occasion and in further brushes with the law. Lastingly, however, he emerged as a symbol of human solidarity.
Pertinently, the historian Carla King, in her forward to Davitt’s Collected Writings 1868-1906, Edition Synapse, remarked that during seven years of a brutal prison regime, Davitt turned, with a greatness of soul and a power to forgive reminiscent of Nelson Mandela a century later, from physical force terrorist to a constitutional politician. Davitt inspired Mahatma Gandhi in his campaign against the British Empire.
”
“ Indeed, Davitt, the one-armed Irishman who spoke with a pronounced Lancashire accent, is best remembered in history books as a leading figure in the 19th century Home Rule movement, and especially for his role as a revolutionary founder of the Land League. Successive Land Acts passed by the House of Commons gave Irish tenants not just Davitt’s three Fs - fair rent, fixity of tenure and free sale – but allowed them to buy their land from oppressive, but mainly absentee landlords . That class was worn down by ‘Captain Boycott’. ”
“ While Parnell was venerated posthumously as a martyr, Davitt was excorciated as a Judas. Remarkably, by 1916, just 10 years after his death, Davitt had been deliberately air-brushed out of the script for Irish freedom. ‘Republican’ Ireland declined to acknowledge him as among ‘the Greats’. Pearse did not assign Davitt a place in the Republican pantheon of Theobald Wolfe Tone, John Mitchel, Fintan Lalor – or even Parnell.
Insufficient attention has been paid to Davitt’s role as an ex-Fenian who took the road of peaceful, democratic politics by renouncing his Fenian oath and taking a seat in the House of Commons at Westminster. He (would have) totally excluded violence as a means of advancing Irish unification.
”
[edit] Memory
At Straide, Davitt's birthplace is now a museum that commemorates his life and works. A life-sized bronze statue stands before it. The bridge from Achill Island to the mainland is named after him. Over Davitt’s grave a Celtic Cross in his memory bears the awesome words ‘’Blessed is he that hungers and thirsts after justice, for he shall receive it’’.
The town of Haslingden has also commemorated Davitt's link with it through a public monument erected in the presence of Davitt's son. The inscription reads as follows:
"This memorial has been erected to perpetuate the memory of Michael Davitt with the town of Haslingden. It marks the site of the home of Michael Davitt, Irish patriot, who resided in Haslingden from 1853 to 1867. / He became a great world figure in the cause of freedom and raised his voice and pen on behalf of the oppressed, irrespective of race or creed, that serfdom be transformed to citizenship and that man be given the opportunity to display his God given talents for the betterment of mankind. / Born 1846, died 1906. / Erected by the Irish Democratic League Club, Haslingden (Davitt Branch)."
Haslingden also organised a 'Exile & Exiles' Festival in 2006 which did much to celebrate the life of Michael Davitt, as well as place it in the context of other immigrants to the community. This included 'The Jail Bird', a performance about Davitt, created by Horse and Bamboo Theatre with local school students.
Of the people cited as inspirations by northwest Mayo's Shell to Sea campaign, such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, Martin Luther King and Mohandas Gandhi, Davitt is the sole Irish person. On their release from prison, the Rossport Five laid a wreath at his grave in Straide.
[edit] Popular culture
* Irish folk musician Andy Irvine's 1996 Patrick Street song, "Forgotten Hero", is a tribute to Davitt. In addition, Irish-born musician Donal Maguire has recorded an album of songs based on Davitt's life, entitled Michael Davitt: The Forgotten Hero?.
* His death is discussed in James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
[edit] Notes
1. ^ a b c d Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press (2004)
2. ^ a b A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, p.105-105, D. J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty , Gill & MacMillan (2003) ISBN 0-7176-2520-3
3. ^ Biography "The long Gestation, Irish Nationalist Life 1891-1918" pps. 83, 225, Patrick Maume (1999)
4. ^ Michael Davitt: Still in the shadow of the gunmen, John Cooney, Irish Independent, May 27th 2006
[edit] Works
* Michael Davitt, The Prison Life of Michael Davitt (1878)
* Michael Davitt, Leaves from a Prison Diary (2 vols) (1885)
* Michael Davitt, Defence of the Land League (1891)
* Michael Davitt, Life and Progress in Australia (1895)
* Michael Davitt, Within the Pale, The True Story of Anti-Semitic Persecutions in Russia (1903)
* Michael Davitt, Boer fight for freedom (1904)
* Michael Davitt, The Fall of Feudalism in Ireland (1904) ISBN 1-59107-031-7
* Michael Davitt, Collected Writings, 1868-1906 Carla King (2001) ISBN 1-85506-648-3
* Michael Davitt, The "Times"-Parnell Commission: Speech delivered by Michael Davitt in defence of the Land League (1890)
[edit] References
* D.B. Cashman and Michael Davitt, The Life of Michael Davitt and the Secret History of The Land League (1881)
* Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, Michael Davitt : revolutionary, agitator and labour leader (1908, etc.)
* M.M. O'Hara, Chief and Tribune: Parnell and Davitt (1919)
* Carla King: Michael Davitt, Dundalk (1999)
* T. W. Moody: Davitt and Irish Revolution 1846-82, Oxford (1981)
* Kevin Haddick Flynn: Davitt - Land Warrior (History Today May 2006)
* Laurence Marley: Michael Davitt Four Courts Press (2007) ISBN 978-1-84682-006-3
[edit] See also
* List of people on stamps of Ireland
* Young Greens (Ireland) This youth party is chaired by Michael's great grandson, Ed.
[edit] External links
[edit] Institutions
* Michael Davitt Museum, County Mayo, Ireland
* The Irish Democratic Club, (Davitt Branch) in Haslingden, the town where Michael Davitt was brought up
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Alexander Martin Sullivan Member of Parliament for Meath
1882 Succeeded by
Edward Sheil
Preceded by
Pierce Mahony Member of Parliament for Meath North
1892 Succeeded by
James Gibney
Preceded by
William O'Brien Member of Parliament for Cork North-East
1893 Succeeded by
William Abraham
Preceded by
Jeremiah Daniel Sheehan Member of Parliament for Kerry East
1895 Succeeded by
James Boothby Burke Roche
Preceded by
James Francis Xavier O'Brien Member of Parliament for Mayo South
1895–1899 Succeeded by
John O'Donnell
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Davitt"
Categories: 1846 births | 1906 deaths | Irish amputees | Land reform in Ireland | Irish journalists | Irish non-fiction writers | Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood | Irish Parliamentary Party MPs | Irish Nationalist politicians | Anti-Parnellite MPs | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Irish constituencies (1801-1922) | UK MPs 1880-1885 | UK MPs 1892-1895 | UK MPs 1895-1900 | British people of Irish descent | People from County Mayo
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