Thomas Francis Meagher

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Thomas Francis Meagher

Thomas Francis Meagher (born August 3, 1823 in Waterford , Ireland , † July 1, 1867 in the Missouri River , Montana ) was an American politician and from 1865 to 1866 the second governor of the Montana Territory . He was also an Irish freedom fighter.

Early years

Thomas Meagher attended the Clongowes Wood College Jesuit School in County Kildare and Stonyhurst College in Lancashire . After completing his studies in England , he returned to his native Waterford in 1843, where he joined the Irish independence movement and called for an armed uprising against British rule. In connection with the February Revolution of 1848 , Meagher traveled to France with some political allies to congratulate the French on the successful revolution. After his return, he proposed a new flag in the colors green, white and orange to the Irish based on the French tricolor . Because of his further political activities in the course of 1848, which were directed against the British government, he was arrested by the English and sentenced to death for high treason . The sentence was later commuted to a lifelong banishment to Tasmania . He was brought there in 1849 and managed to escape to America in January 1852.

Meagher in the American Civil War

Upon his arrival in New York City , he was warmly welcomed by his Irish compatriots who lived there. Then he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He also worked as a journalist. He founded a newspaper called the Irish News , which was aimed primarily at his like-minded compatriots in the United States. The Civil War also divided the Irish colony in the US into two camps. While many Irish joined the southern states , there was also a group that Meagher was a part of who opted for the Union. Meagher joined the US Army and led the 69th New York Militia Regiment since April 1861. He served as a staff officer in the Battle of Bull Run before he was given command of the 2nd ("Irish") Brigade on August 3, 1861, which he organized for the Peninsula Campaign in the winter . On February 3, 1862, he became a brigadier general and led his brigade as part of the Sumner Division in the Potomac Army . His troops fought at Seven Pines and during the Seven Days of Battle . In the fall of 1862 he fought in the Battle of Antietam and Fredericksburg . During the last years of the war, however, it was used in the western United States outside the actual combat area. After the war he was appointed Secretary of State in the Montana Territory.

Territorial governor in Montana

Soon after arriving in the Montana Territory, he succeeded Sidney Edgerton as acting Territorial Governor. He held this office until the arrival of Green Clay Smith , who was named official territorial governor by President Andrew Johnson on July 13, 1866 . After that, Meagher was again Secretary of State. In Montana, he tried to balance the existing political disputes between the Republicans and the Democrats . This attempt was unsuccessful and Meagher made political opponents in both camps. The pardon of a convicted murderer, who was also from Ireland, turned the population against him. During these years, many Americans moved to Montana for a variety of reasons. Among other things, they followed rumors of gold discoveries. Existing contracts with the Indians were violated and Indian wars broke out . Meagher built a militia with the help of federal funds. He also convened an initial constituent assembly in the hope of securing the area's accession to the United States as a state . But that was not yet politically enforceable at the time.

death

In the summer of 1867 Meagher traveled to Fort Benton , which was then the end of steam navigation on the Missouri. Meagher was about to receive a delivery of arms from the Army for his militia. Apparently his health was in poor health at the time. On July 1st, he was on board a ship, and from there he disappeared in an unexplained manner. It is believed that he fell into the Missouri River and drowned. Given the many enemies he had made himself in Montana, rumors soon spread that it might be murder. Other theories speculate about a possible suicide with reference to Meagher's depressed mood shortly before his disappearance. The true circumstances of his death have never been clarified.

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personal data
SURNAME Meagher, Thomas Francis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician, governor of Montana
DATE OF BIRTH August 3, 1823
PLACE OF BIRTH Waterford , Ireland
DATE OF DEATH July 1, 1867
Place of death Missouri River , Montana