John MacBride
| John MacBride | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
7 May 1868 Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, UK |
| Died | 5 May 1916 (aged 47) Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, Ireland, UK |
| Allegiance |
Irish Transvaal Brigade Irish Volunteers Irish Republican Brotherhood |
| Years of service | 1913–1916 |
| Rank | Major second-in-command (4th battalion) |
| Commands held | 4th Battalion |
| Battles/wars |
Second Boer War Easter Rising |
Major John MacBride (sometimes mistranscribed as McBride) (7 May 1868 – 5 May 1916) was an Irish republican executed by the British for his participation in the 1916 Easter Rising.
John MacBride was born at The Quay, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, to Patrick MacBride, a shopkeeper and trader, and the former Honoria Gill, who survived her son. A plaque marks the building on the Westport Quays where he was born (now the Helm Bar and Restaurant). He was educated at the Christian Brothers' School, Westport, and at St. Malachy's College, Belfast. He worked for a period in a drapery shop in Castlerea, County Roscommon. He had studied medicine, but gave it up and began working with a chemist's firm in Dublin.
He joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood and was associated with Michael Cusack in the early days of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He also joined the Celtic Literary Society through which he came to know Arthur Griffith who was to remain a friend and influence throughout his life. Beginning in 1893, MacBride was termed a "dangerous nationalist" by the British government. In 1896 he went to the United States on behalf of the IRB. On his return he emigrated to South Africa.
He took part in the Second Boer War, where he raised the Irish Transvaal Brigade. What became known as MacBride's Brigade was first commanded by an Irish American, Colonel John Blake, an ex-US Cavalry Officer. MacBride recommended Blake as Commander since MacBride himself had no military experience. The Brigade was given official recognition by the Boer Government with the commissions of the Brigade's officers signed by State Secretary F.W. Reitz. MacBride was commissioned with the rank of Major in the Boer army and given Boer citizenship.
...
Wikipedia