For this assignment everyone should post 200 words on their Union figure explaining who they were, what side they were on in the Union debate and why, anything significant they did during the Union period, and what happened to them after (briefly).
You are free to comment on other figures.
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Sorry, I posted twice as it didn't seem to come up, and now it seems to disappear!
William Conyngham Plunket MP (1753-1864)
He was a solicitor after graduating from Trinity College in 1784. In 1797 he was made Kings counsel by Lord Clare .In early 1798 he was offered the seat for the borough of charlemont previously held by Henry Grattan. After negotiations he finally took his seat and on February 1798.He was a staunch Anti-unionist and what would be described as an eighteenth century whip MP. He set about to a devoted opposition to the anticipated Act of Union. He seeked to inaugurate a display of public opposition by encouraging a meeting of the bar in late October of 1798, but despite the expected hostility of a majority of it’s members to the idea of a union.
When the Act of Union was first brought up in parliament in Jan 1799, Plunket announced in a speech that he would resist a union ‘to the last gasp of my existence and the last drop of my blood.’ He also refered to Viscount Castlereagh as a ‘green and sapless twig’. He believed that if it were brought forward immediately it would be passed because the people would not have time to think of the consequences. As a member of the Irish bar plunket was among the most determines anti unionists. For plunket it was ‘a question whether Ireland shall cease to be free’.
When the parliament was later abolished on the first of January 1801, Plunket lost his seat with the dis-continuing of his seat. In 1803 he went on to become the solicitor general for Ireland. In 1805 he became the attorney general for Ireland .In 1812 he became a MP for Trinity College Dublin and in 1827 he was awarded a peerage and became the 1st Baron Plunket. Between 1830 and 1841 he served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He later died at the age of 89 in his come in Wicklow.
=*LORD CASTLEREAGH*=
ord Castlereagh, real name Robert Stewart (he did not earn this title until 1796) was born in Dublin June 18 1796. He was the son of an up and coming county Down politician, who had married the daughter of a wealthy man, so there was money within the family. Castlereagh gained many titles throughout his career such as Lord of Treasury, Chief Secretary although Lord Castlereagh is the one he is remembered by today. He chose to follow his father into politics and enter the House of Commons as an M.P in 1771. In 1790 Castlereagh runs in the county Down election which turns out to be the most expensive of the time costing £60,000 to ensure success. He wins a sit but is said to have been unhappy because he wished to be a member of the British parliament. He always sided with the opposition and he showed admiration and affection for William Pitt the British Prime Minster.
Castlereagh is said to have been a terrible speaker who drawls his words and was a dull tedious talker. Although he was often praised for his speeches due to there exceptional content. In 1794 Pitt offers him vacant borough of Tregony, Cornwall, British House of Commons. It is in August of 1796 that his father is promoted and he receives the title Lord Castlereagh.
Castlereagh was seen as a traitor of his Nation as he was with the British. When he became temporary Chief Secretary he found himself about to be caught up in a revolutionary war. He was blamed for almost everything that happened during the rebellion, and he was removed as Chief Secretary. Although he had made close bonds with big name during his time in office which lead to him being reappointed as Chief Secretary officially.
He wanted the opening of the union. Although on the opening session in 1799 he came under harsh attack. He was made out to be single- minded, ruthless and cold and also jeered about his inability to have children. Castlereagh was pro – union and pro – Catholics. He saw that it was dangerous to exclude the Catholics; he said that the union would fail if Catholics were not willing to agree.
The king had a low opinion of Castlereagh and was angry that he continued to pursue the catholic question, which made him an enemy of the king. Due to all this Castlereagh decides to resign along side Pitt and Cornwallis. Irish nationalists refused to forgive Castlereagh for the part he played in the rebellion.
On August 12 1822 Castlereagh put a knife through his own throat. Why this was done is still unclear although there have been many rumours. In the past he had suffered mental health issues and it is said that this had happened again.
Francis Dobbs 1750 - 1811
Francis Dobbs was the son of a Church of Ireland Clergyman from Co. Antrim, this pius background seems to have inspired him throughout his life. In 1768 he joined the army and rose to leutenant before leaving in 1773, after the army he settled with seven children and wrote plays for a time, the most successful of these early works being The Patriot King or The Irish Chief.
Dobbs took a keen interest in Politics in 1775, he wrote several pamphlets regarding Irish legislative Independence. Dobbs joined several organisations focussed the need for Irish free trade with Britain and by 1781 he was the major of the southern battalion of the first Ulster regiment. Dobbs became deeply engrained in Ulster politics and even acted as a negotiator for some of the captured United Irishmen in 1798 and in 1799 he became a member of the Irish house of Commons.
The Speech he delivered against the bill for a legislative union with Britain on the 7th of June 1800 was extremely popular. He opened with an attack on those who were bribed onto the pro union side, claiming they “vacated their seats by accepting places of profit under the crown.” He labelled the British government as hypocrites regarding the passing of an act just a few years early that rejected Irish emancipation and blocked the British parliaments power to bind the parliament in Ireland.
Most notably Dobbs claimed the Act of Union went against ancient scripture in the bible as the second coming was to appear in ireland. Nowadays this could detract from the real passion he felt for his cause, he truly doubted that “Twenty-eight lay and four spiritual peers, seated among two hundred Nobles of another Country could give any security to the happiness or Liberty in Ireland.” The transcription of the speech sold 30’000 copies and became his most famous work.
The effects it had can be seen in the June 12th 1800 issue of The Times. When discussing the opposition to the Act of Union it stated that “On the question for the third reading of the Union Bill, several opposition members spoke most warmly and interestingly on the subject; and Mr Dobbs particularly, in a strain of enthusiasm, spoke to prove from the Revelations that the Union cannot prove operative; that the second Messiah is on the eve of taking place, and that it is in this Island that he is said to appear. “
Dobbs went on to write several more books on the back of his speeches success, but never recaptured the popularity, his eccentricities soon came out of hand and in April 1811 he died in debt.
George Ponsonby (5 March 1755 – 8 July 1817)
George Ponsonby was the second surviving son of John Ponsonby, a speaker of the Irish House of Commons he was educated as a barrister in Cambridge and afterwards became a member of the Irish parliament, and later Chancellor of the Exchequer. After his appointment, he began to take part in the debates on the question of Roman Catholic relief, and leading the opposition to the union of the parliaments calling it “unscrupulous”. After the act of union was passed and the parliaments merged in 1800, he represented wicklow in west minister. He was then Lord Chancellor of Ireland for some time before being appointed leader of the opposition. As leader of the opposition, ponceby was described as “a little known mediocrity” he proved himself to be a weak leader, but unwilling to resign he stayed in the position until his death in 1817.
Henry grattan (1746-1820
He was born in Dublin on the 3 of July 1746. At an early age he showed signs of exceptional intellect and character. He studied law at trinity college Dublin which he distinguished his career and also began a lifelong devotion to classical literature . He was called to the Irish bar in 1772 but he never really wanted to practice law. He became friends with Henry flood an Irish statesman and the influence of flood had an knock on effect on Grattan it directed him towards his political aim’s. In 1775 lord Charlemont brought him into the Irish parliament. This is were Grattan started to excel past his friends to the leadership of the national party.
England tried to take power from the Irish based parliament by trying to exercise the power to legislate directly for Ireland without even the normal concurrence of the parliament. Grattan hit back with his Poyning’s Act celebrated statue of Henry vII. This negotiation caused volunteers to draw up outside the parliament in anger while passing this scene grattan said, “I found Ireland on her knees, I watched over her with a paternal solicitude: I have traced her progress from injuries to arms, and from arms to liberty. After a month of negotiation the claims of Ireland were conceded. The gratitude his country showed was brilliant they gave him a parliamentary grant of £50,000 this started off “Grattan’s parliament” Grattan’s parliament had little power like the Irish executive was still appointed not by the majority in the house of commons but by the British government. His parliament wasn’t successful, his popularity was rapidly declining so he retired from parliament in may 1797. In the following year of his retirement the rebellion of 1798 broke out, which was sternly and cruelly repressed . This rebellion was disastrous for Ireland because pit pounced like a piranha on the opportunity of a legislative union between the British and the Irish parliaments. The rebellion put an to the growing reconciliation between roman Catholics and protestants. This caused Ireland to divide into two hostile factions. Eventually causing long scaled debates on the union.
In 1799 Pits governments presented their bill it and was defeated in the Irish house of commons. Grattan had nothing got to do with this defeat as he was still in retirement. Grattan’s popularity was now in serious decline and his proposals for parliamentary reform and catholic Emancipation had now became the watchwords of the ‘United Irishmen’. he was dismissed from the privy council, his portrait was taking down from Trinity College and the Merchant Guild of Dublin struck his name off there roles. As this threatened the constitution he was fully restored.
Grattan’s level of passion was revealed when the Irish Parliament opened on 15 January 1800. Sir Laurence Parsons, in proposing an amendment pledging the House to maintain a free and independent parliament accused Castlereagh of 'prostituting the prerogative of appointment to places in order to pack a parliament'. Angry speeches were delivered on both sides through the night. at midnight Grattan (who had not been an MP for several years) bought Wicklow borough for £1,200 and, dressed in his old blue Volunteer uniform, arrived in the Commons at 7 a.m. he was Exhausted and ill, he was allowed to give his speech sitting down . In his two-hour declamation Grattan pointed at Castlereagh saying that the Chief Secretary proposed to “buy what cannot be sold – liberty. Against such a proposition, were I expiring on the floor, I should beg to utter my last breath and record my dying testimony”. sadly this breathtaking speech was to no avail.. The motion was defeated by 138 votes to 96 and resolutions in favour of the Union obtained consistent majorities both in the Commons and the Lords.
The success of the union was down to the use of bribery and the buying of borough’s. lord Cornwallis admitted in this bribery “my occupation is now of the most unpleasant nature, negotiating and jobbing with the most corrupt people under heaven” but the bribes and buying of boroughs were legal so Ireland didn’t stan a chance.
After the bill was past grattan took no active part in public affairs, it was not until 1805 tat he became a member of the brittish parliament. While disputing in this parliament he made a name for him self from his outstanding speeches his first speech ‘Annual register’ was said to be “one of the most brilliant and eloquent ever pronounced within the walls of parliament”. his last speech was in 1819 which was in regarads of the union. He died on the 6 of June 1820, and he was sadly buried beside Pit and Fox.
To finish off here ill leave a wonderful quote from Sydney Smith an English writer and clergyman in the name of Henry Grattan “no government ever dismayed him. The world could not bribe him. He tought only of Ireland; lived for no other object; dedicated to her his beautiful fancy, his elegant wit, his manly courage, and all the slendor of his astonishing eloquence”
He was a man who stood up for what he believed in and even put his popularity on the line for any cause. He was a ledgent
My comment Didnt save!! :(
NNoooo!!! i gotta rewrite it :(
Wiliam Pitt (1759-1806)
Pitt was the youngest prime-minister who got the nick name William Pitt the Younger fron the fact that his farther had also been a prime-minister in england(Pitt the Elder)
When Pitt began his adedmic career in pembrooke college in cambidge he done extensive readings in english litrature,classics, became interested in chemistry,
pitt was also compatant in maths.in his later years in college pitt had begun to devote more of his time to socialising. this is where he made aquainances such as john pratt and charles long.
Pitts first attempt at canvasing for a seat in cambridge was unsuccesful and as Pitt was not wealthy he could not afford to run in an electorial contest. When Pitt was approched with a proposal of uptaking a seat in cambridge(even if not a legitimatly gain seat) he jumped at this oppertunity. He took this seat in agreement that if his views were ever to differ from that of the duke of ralfalk he said he would resign.
Pitt's first speech was said to be one filled with elogence and melody, his manner was said to be easy and his language said to be beautiful. However this was not to become a pattern in the first session of pitts presence as he not make many other substantial inputs. This may have been due to his unease about his situation, pitts conflicting loyalties( to stand for what he believes, or hold his seat) may have got the better off him!
Pitt recieved a vote of no confiednce however chose to decline any idea of resignation as he gained himself the backing of the king and the house of lords, and was also honoured with the freedom of the city of london. Pitts coach was ambushed out the return from the ceremony and this allowed the public to sympathise and also help his conquest of gaining an honest name.
Throughout the seventeen years Pitt was prime-minister he implimented many legislations his first major one was the india act1784,which attempted to limit corruption in india.Also in 1786 pitt set up a long term fund for the countries expenses as it had begun to accumulate a debt, pitt created a way in which tax payers money could earn interest and become a back up for the country.
During the french revolution Pitt was the first to introduce income tax, this eased the finacial strain that had been put on England.
during the french revolution tensions rose in ireland and pitt firmly belived that uniting these governments would not be enough pitt was striving towards catholic emancipatuion and had gone to great lenghts to get the union passed as he believed he would be granted his request. However this did not happen and this then lead to pitts resignation.
In 1804 Pitt returned but this time Pitt had returned with alot of previous followers now apposing him. The english joined a coalition with sweden, austria and russia and also the achieved a victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, whih secured them victory.
At aged 46 Pitt died,he had no children although his nephew was at his bedsided and said that Pitts last words were:'Oh, my country! how I leave my country!'
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