1763 - 21 Oct., 1803

United Irishman. Born in Co. Cork. He served in India as a young man in the british army. He became a magistrate in Tyrone in 1790, but was uncomfortable prosecuting members of the secret agrarian societies. Became a librarian in Belfast and helped in writing the Declaration and Test for the United Irishmen. Moved to Dublin in 1791 and helped to form branches of the society there. He became a messenger between the United Irishmen in the North and the other rebels in the south, esp. Dublin.  He was imprisoned before the rebellion of 1798 and released in 1802. He met Robert Emmet on his release and helped to organise the Rising that would occur in 1803. Upon the failure of that Rising he was on the run until his capture about 3 months later. He was executed at Downpatrick Gaol. A wonderful poem "The man from God knows where" is about him.