The Probert Encyclopaedia of People

FENIAN

Fenians, a name usually derived from Fionn or Finn, is the name given to a semi-mythical class of Irish warriors famous for their prowess.

The name was assumed during the 19th century by those Irish who formed a brotherhood in their own country and in America, with the intention of delivering Ireland from the sovereignty of England, and establishing an Irish republic. About the end of 1861 the Fenian Brotherhood was regularly organized in America; and its chief council, consisting of a 'head-centre,' John O'Mahony, and five other members, which had its seat at New York, soon had branches in every state of the Union; while at the same time large numbers joined the cause in Ireland, where James Stephens was 'head-centre'.

The close of the American Civil War, when large numbers of trained Irish soldiers who had taken part in the war were released from service, was thought to be a convenient time for taking some decisive steps. Two risings were planned in Ireland, but they were both frustrated by the energetic measures of the British government, the first, in September, 1865, by the seizure of the office of the Irish People, the Fenian journal published at Dublin, in which papers were found which revealed to the government the secrets of the conspiracy, and which led to the capture of the ringleaders, Luby, O'Leary, O'Donovan Rossa, and others; the second, in February, 1866, was as speedily suppressed by the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. An invasion of Canada, attempted in the same year, failed as miserably as the attempt in Ireland, and convinced tlie Irish that they could not expect the aid from the United States on which they had hitherto counted.

At last, on the 5th of March, 1867, the long-prepared insurrection broke out almost simultaneously in the districts of Dublin, Drogheda, and Kerry. The number of insurgents in the field, however, did not exceed 3000, and though they burned some police stations, they nowhere faced the troops sent after them. About the same time some forty or fifty Irish-Americans landed in a steamer near Waterford, but soon after fell into the hands of the police. In 1870 and 1871 two raids were again made on Canada, but both were ridiculous failures, the first being repulsed by the Canadian Volunteers, and the second suppressed by the United States government.
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