The Statesman
Probably the most famous family of Patriot Irish was the Carroll family, the most notable of whom was Charles Carroll of Carrollton. He was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. He notably added "of Carrollton" to distinguish himself from several other Charles Carrolls (such as his father) and ensure the king's men knew who to hang if the rebellion failed. Jesuit educated in Maryland and France, he later studied law in England where he was admitted to the bar. At the time of the rebellion, he was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies. His writings and advocacy played a guiding hand in Maryland's march to rebellion and independence. He had a role in Maryland's own "Annapolis Tea Party," the burning of the Peggy Stewart in October 1774. During the war, Carroll represented Maryland in the Continental Congress and served on Maryland's Committee of Safety prior to the declaration. A noted failure was his role in the 1776 mission to Canada, where he, along with Benjamin Franklin, failed to convince French Canada to join the rebellion.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
The Prelate
Charles Carroll's cousin, Father John Carroll, accompanied Benjamin Franklin and him on the Canada mission. The obvious intent was to appeal to the Canadian Catholics. As a young man, John Carroll went to France for seminary and then Belgium to teach philosophy and theology at Brugges and Lieges. The suppression of the Jesuits by Papal Bull in 1773 drove him to Britain, and when relations between Britain and America soured, he returned to Baltimore in 1774. Carroll's greatest contributions came after the American Revolution. In November 1789, he was appointed bishop of Baltimore with a
diocese encompassing the entire United States. Carroll established America's first institutions for educating and ordining priests, among which was the Sulpician Seminary in Baltimore. He supported Roman Catholic religious orders coming to America. Through George Washington, he secured federal money for missionaries to the Indians. By 1811, he had established four new dioceses: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Bardstown (Kentucky), and was named America's first Archbishop. During his years as head of the American church, the number of Roman Catholics increased almost tenfold, from about 25,000 to 200,000.
diocese encompassing the entire United States. Carroll established America's first institutions for educating and ordining priests, among which was the Sulpician Seminary in Baltimore. He supported Roman Catholic religious orders coming to America. Through George Washington, he secured federal money for missionaries to the Indians. By 1811, he had established four new dioceses: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Bardstown (Kentucky), and was named America's first Archbishop. During his years as head of the American church, the number of Roman Catholics increased almost tenfold, from about 25,000 to 200,000.
Father John Carroll
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| Father of the US Navy, Commodore Barry |
The Seaman
John Barry is another notable Irishman Patriot. Although often taking a back seat to the more flamboyant sailor (and native Scotsman) John Paul Jones, Barry is generally considered the Father of the US Navy. Unlike Carroll, who was born a wealthy third-generation American landholder, Barry was your typical Irish hardscrabble transplant. Born the son of a poor farmer in County Wexford, young Barry enlisted as a cabin boy on his uncle's fishing schooner. Eventually, he rose to be a renowned master of mercantile vessels and eventually settled in Philadelphia. When the war broke out, Barry worked tirelessly to equip the first Continental Navy vessels for combat. His reward was in command of the brig Lexington, which he commanded in one of America's first triumphs over a Royal Navy vessel. Barry turned down a lucrative offer to "come over" for cash and a Royal Navy commission, proffered by the British. During the dark days of late 1776, when he had no ship available, he served on land as a Marine officer and had a role in the battles at Trenton and Princeton. Back at sea the next year, he fought numerous engagements, usually while outnumbered, and generally gave more than he got. After the war, he returned to merchant shipping. Still, in 1794, Secretary of War Henry Knox recalled him to build the first US Navy vessels and led the US Navy during its perilous first years that included a naval war with France and the Barbary depredations.
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| Barry commanded the USS Lexington |
The Sniper
The most famous marksman in a war famed for its plethora of marksmen was Tim Murphy of Morgan's Rifles. Murphy is said to have fired the shot that killed General Simon Fraser at Saratoga in 1777. Legend has it that Morgan gave the order. Climbing a tree, Murphy fired at 300 yards, and Fraser fell, dying.
Some view that as the defining moment of the battle, the battle that changed the course of the war and maybe the world. Fraser was General Johnnie Burgoyne's best commander, arguably the best field general in the British Army. His death heralded the destruction of the British forces and the end to Burgoyne's dreams of crushing the rebellion from the north.
Although a distinct minority, the Irish fought in many Continental Army units as both enlisted and officers. Some of the "French" generals given commissions by Congress (the notorious Conway and hapless Fermoy come to mind) were of Irish heritage. And nine of Washington’s generals were born in Ireland—two major generals and seven brigadier generals. However, of these, only Brigadier General Edward Hand from County Offaly was in Yorktown. There was another Irish general at Yorktown but, ironically, he was serving with the British forces. General Charles O’Hara, the illegitimate son of British General James O’Hara, second baron of Tyrawley, was born in Lisbon. O'Hara lost his son during the Yorktown campaign and had the dubious honor of representing Lord Cornwallis at the surrender ceremony. There were no all-Irish regiments in the British order of battle at Yorktown, but there were many Irish among the rank-and-file. For example, the roster of the 76th Foot, a Scottish regiment that was at Yorktown, listed 114 Irish among its soldiers. During the 1780s, the Dublin government was funding a British military reserve of 12,000 soldiers, and Cork was the primary logistical base for the British forces in North America. The famed Royal American Regiment of French and Indian War had been posted to Ireland, and when it returned to America to fight the rebellion, its rank and file were primarily Hibernian.
Several of Washington's aides, his" military family," were Irish or of Irish descent: John Fitzgerald, Peregrine Fitzhugh, James McHenry, Stephen Moylan, and Joseph Reed. Moylan and Fitzgerald were born in Ireland. Most notable was McHenry, who later became Secretary of War and whose namesake fort in Baltimore Harbor became the scene of the battle that inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner."
There is no connection between aide John Fitzgerald and the hoary-haired "Senior Intelligence Advisor" in The Yankee Doodle Spies series, the fictional Robert Fitzgerald. However, Robert Fitzgerald and Jeremiah Creed represent the Irish and all immigrants who were caught up in the great struggle for liberty.
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| Sniper Tim Murphy takes aim at Bemis Heights |
| Brigadier General Charles O'Hara substituted for the "indisposed" Major General Cornwallis |
The Foe
Although a distinct minority, the Irish fought in many Continental Army units as both enlisted and officers. Some of the "French" generals given commissions by Congress (the notorious Conway and hapless Fermoy come to mind) were of Irish heritage. And nine of Washington’s generals were born in Ireland—two major generals and seven brigadier generals. However, of these, only Brigadier General Edward Hand from County Offaly was in Yorktown. There was another Irish general at Yorktown but, ironically, he was serving with the British forces. General Charles O’Hara, the illegitimate son of British General James O’Hara, second baron of Tyrawley, was born in Lisbon. O'Hara lost his son during the Yorktown campaign and had the dubious honor of representing Lord Cornwallis at the surrender ceremony. There were no all-Irish regiments in the British order of battle at Yorktown, but there were many Irish among the rank-and-file. For example, the roster of the 76th Foot, a Scottish regiment that was at Yorktown, listed 114 Irish among its soldiers. During the 1780s, the Dublin government was funding a British military reserve of 12,000 soldiers, and Cork was the primary logistical base for the British forces in North America. The famed Royal American Regiment of French and Indian War had been posted to Ireland, and when it returned to America to fight the rebellion, its rank and file were primarily Hibernian.
| British surrender at Yorktown, October 1781 |
The Family
Several of Washington's aides, his" military family," were Irish or of Irish descent: John Fitzgerald, Peregrine Fitzhugh, James McHenry, Stephen Moylan, and Joseph Reed. Moylan and Fitzgerald were born in Ireland. Most notable was McHenry, who later became Secretary of War and whose namesake fort in Baltimore Harbor became the scene of the battle that inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner."
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| Former aide James McHenry later became Secretary of War |
There is no connection between aide John Fitzgerald and the hoary-haired "Senior Intelligence Advisor" in The Yankee Doodle Spies series, the fictional Robert Fitzgerald. However, Robert Fitzgerald and Jeremiah Creed represent the Irish and all immigrants who were caught up in the great struggle for liberty.
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