Thomas MacNevin (1814 – 8 February 1848) was an influential Irish writer and journalist, who died under "peculiarly sad circumstances" in a Bristol asylum. According to T. F. O'Sullivan, he was one of the most "brilliant intellects" to be associated with ''The Nation'' newspaper and with the

Young Ireland Young Ireland (, ) was a political movement, political and cultural movement, cultural movement in the 1840s committed to an all-Ireland struggle for independence and democratic reform. Grouped around the Dublin weekly ''The Nation (Irish news ...

movement.

Background

According to the official records of

Trinity College, Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Univ ...

, which he entered at the age of 17, Thomas MacNevin was born in Dublin, the son of Daniel MacNevin, although it has also been suggested that he was born in

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

Charles Gavan Duffy Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, KCMG, His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, PC (12 April 1816 – 9 February 1903), was an Irish poet and journalist (editor of ''The Nation (Irish news ...

in his ''Young Ireland: a Fragment of Irish History, 1840–45'' described MacNevin as being "below the middle size but well made, well poised, and agile" with auburn hair and clear blue eyes, "which he believed he inherited from Danish ancestors." His face was "mobile, and possessed the power not given to one man in ten thousand, of expressing a wide range of feeling without exaggeration or grimace."''Young Ireland'', Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co 1880 p. 112

Education

During his time at Trinity College, MacNevin became treasurer of the College Historical Society between 1834 and 1835, and auditor in 1837–38.''Young Ireland'', T. F. O'Sullivan, The Kerryman Ltd. 1945. p. 407 The society had been founded by

Edmund Burke Edmund Burke (; 12 January ew Style, NS1729 – 9 July 1797) was an Anglo-Irish Politician, statesman, journalist, writer, literary critic, philosopher, and parliamentary orator who is regarded as the founder of the Social philosophy, soc ...

nearly a century before, and had trained three generations of Irish orators and statesmen. However, in 1838 the society was exiled from the college that gave it a name.''Young Ireland'', Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co 1880 p. 34 It was during this period that MacNevin became its president. The meetings were held in Radley's Hotel, and attracted audiences with their vehement and flamboyant eloquence.

Isaac Butt Isaac Butt (6 September 1813 – 5 May 1879) was an Irish barrister, editor, politician, Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, economist and the founder and first leader of a number of Irish nationalist par ...

, Joseph Lefanu, Torrens M'Cullagh, Thomas Wallis, James O'Hea, William Keogh, and Joseph Pollock all debated in a style reminiscent of that of the old Irish Parliament. At Trinity College, MacNevin studied

elocution Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compel ...

under John Vandenhoff and Sheridan Knowles. He completed his degree in 1838, and was called to the Bar the following year.

Career

In 1844, MacNevin edited the ''State Trials'', and later he wrote two volumes for the Young Ireland "Library of Ireland". The first, a ''History of the Irish Volunteers of 1782'', was published in 1845, followed by ''The Confiscation of Ulster'' in 1846. In 1845, he published ''Gerald'', a three-act play on the invasion of Ireland by

Henry II Henry II may refer to: Kings * Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (972–1024), crowned King of Germany in 1002, of Italy in 1004 and Emperor in 1014 *Henry II of England (1133–89), reigned from 1154 *Henry II of Jerusalem and Cyprus (1271–1 ...

in 1171. Also in this year he edited and published ''The speeches of the Right Honourable Richard Lalor Sheil.'' MacNevin contributed to the Northern Catholic newspaper

The Vindicator ''The Vindicator'' is a daily newspaper serving Youngstown, Ohio, United States and the Mahoning County region as well as southern Trumbull County and northern Columbiana County. ''The Vindicator'' was established in 1869. As of September 1, ...

. MacNevin worked on ''

The Nation ''The Nation'' is a progressive American monthly magazine that covers political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's '' The Liberator'', an abolitionist newspaper ...

'' newspaper of the Young Ireland group for two years. He felt the death of Davis in 1845 keenly, and in the last remaining years of his life was mentally affected.

Death

MacNevin died on 8 February 1848 in an asylum in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

. On 19 February, ''The Nation'' paid a tribute to their former colleague and friend.

Background

Education

Career

Death

Works

References

Further reading