Robert Dunlop

“ After that event there was no question as to the strength of Fenianism in Ireland. But neither the arms nor the opportunity of using them seemed to be forthcoming, and as time went on Fenian opinion in both Ireland and America grew restive. Stephens encouraged the belief that O'Mahony was to blame for the inaction. The result was that under the impression that O'Mahony was acting as a drag on the movement a party of action sprang into existence in America which in the end wrecked the conspiracy. ”

“ Straitened circumstances, due to the great famine in Ireland, compelled a year and a half's absence (1846–7) from the univerrity, but returning in the autumn of 1847 he obtained a second class in literæ humaniores in 1848. His father had died in 1846, and Morris, having abandoned an early predilection for a military career, raised three years after leaving Oxford the necessary fees of 100l. wherewith to enter the King's Inns, Dublin, as a law student. In Michaelmas term 1852 he was admitted a member of Lincoln's Inn and he was called to the Irish bar in 1854. ”

“ A scheme of a plot for effecting the freedom of Ireland was broached to him by John O'Mahony [q. v.] , and while O'Mahony and Doheny proceeded to America to see what could be done in that quarter, Stephens, accompanied by Thomas Clarke Luby [q. v. Suppl. II] , made a tour of inspection through Ireland. After travelling up and down the country for nearly a year and mixing with all classes and conditions of the population, Stephens was convinced of the feasibility of a fresh movement in the form of a secret conspiracy, with himself as its chief organiser. ”

“ HENRY, MITCHELL (1826–1910) , Irish politician, born at Ardwick Green, Manchester, in 1826, was younger son of Alexander Henry, M.P. for South Lancashire in the liberal interest (1847–52) , who died 4 Oct. 1862, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of George Brush, of Dromore, co. Down. Having been educated privately and at University College School, Henry joined the Pine Street school of medicine in Manchester, afterwards incorporated in the medical department of the Owens College. ”

“ His mission from a pecuniary point of view was not a success, and, returning to Ireland at the end of July, he found the movement languishing there. Luby's energy restored confidence, and the 'Irish People' newspaper was successfully launched at Dublin as the organ of the party. ”

“ Apart from his journalistic work he wrote 'The Lives and Times of Illustrious and Representative Irishmen' (New York, 1878; vol. i. only) , and in 1882 he contributed a series of articles on the Fenian movement to the New York 'Irish Nation.' O'Leary dedicated his 'Recollections of Fenians and Fenianism' to him in acknowledgment of the assistance rendered by him in its composition; a portrait in vol. i. confirms the description of him in the Dublin papers in 1865 as 'a quiet-faced, pale and somewhat sad-looking man.' He died in New York on 1 Dec. ”

“ Quinn's private school in Harcourt Street Kane passed to Queen's College, Cork, whence he graduated M.A. in 1862, and received in 1882 the honorary degree of LL.D. Becoming a member of Lincoln's Inn, he studied law in London in the chambers of an eminent conveyancing lawyer, W. H. G. Bagshawe, and in 1865 he graduated LL.B. with honours in London University. ”

“ To remedy this defect Stephens visited America towards the close of 1858. During the five months he spent there his enthusiasm and ability as an organiser gave life to the Fenian Brotherhood, which was simultaneously planned on the same lines and with the same aims as the Irish Republican Brotherhood, established there by O'Mahony, and when he returned to Europe in March 1859 he was richer by some 100l. ”

“ In 1865 he unsuccessfully contested Woodstock in the liberal interest, and was defeated at Manchester both at a bye-election in 1867 and at the general election in 1868. During his second Manchester candidature he founded the 'Evening News ' as an electioneering sheet, and after his defeat he disposed of the paper to the printer, William Evans.
Henry was an enthusiastic angler, and his interest in the sport brought him frequently to the west of Ireland. As a consequence he successfully contested county Galway in 1871. He warmly supported the political principles of Isaac Butt [q. v.] ”

“ But he ceased to play an active part in Irish-American politics. Like O'Leary and the Fenians generally, he regarded the home rule movement under Butt and Parnell with distrust, and he was open in his condemnation of the Land League agitation. ”

“ From 1837 to 1841 he was at a private school at Epsom, and from 1841 at a school in South Wales, where, under the tuition of the rector of Laughame, in Carmarthenshire, he studied classics and history, and enjoyed ample opportunity for outdoor sports — shooting, fishing, and hunting. ”

“ The scheme appealed to the military instincts of the Irish, and before long Leinster and Munster and even parts of Ulster were dotted with 'circles.' The main drawback was the lack of funds to provide arms. ”

“ His edition of 'Lectures on Irish History,' by his friend A. G. Richey [q. v.] , published in 1887 under the slightly misleading title of 'A Short History of the Irish People,' displayed wide reading, ripe judgment, and independence. After some years of feeble health he died at his residence, 4 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, on 26 March 1902.
Kane married on 29 Dec. 1875 Ellinor Louisa, second daughter of David Coffey, taxing master in chancery, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. ”