Archibald Hamilton Rowan facts for kids
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Archibald Hamilton Rowan (born May 1, 1751 – died November 1, 1834) was an important figure in Irish history. He helped start the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, a group that wanted big changes in Ireland. He also spent time living away from Ireland in France and the United States. When he came back to Ireland in 1806, he became well-known for fighting for democratic reform, which means he wanted more fairness and rights for people.
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Early Life and Education
Archibald Hamilton Rowan was born in London. His father was Gawen Hamilton from Killyleagh Castle in County Down, Kingdom of Ireland. His mother was Jane Rowan Hamilton. Archibald spent much of his early life in London with his mother and sister. His grandfather, William Rowan, was a lawyer who owned many books about freedom and new ideas. Archibald kept these books in his own large library later on.
When his grandfather passed away in 1767, Archibald inherited a lot of money. But there were rules: he had to change his last name to Rowan, go to a top university like Cambridge, and not visit Ireland until he was 25. He went to Westminster School and then Cambridge in 1768. However, he was asked to leave Cambridge for a short time after trying to throw a teacher into a river! He later returned to Jesus College.
During the 1770s and 1780s, Hamilton Rowan traveled a lot. He visited places in Europe, the Americas, and North Africa. In America, he saw early signs of people wanting big changes, which might have inspired him later. For example, he saw people in South Carolina stand up to their governor, showing a desire for more control over their own lives.
In 1781, Hamilton Rowan married Sarah Dawson in Paris, France. Sarah was a neighbor's daughter and didn't have much money. Archibald fell in love with her, and they had a strong, loving marriage. Sarah supported him through all his challenges, especially when he was living away from home. They had ten children together. He was also the godfather of a famous Irish mathematician, William Rowan Hamilton.
A Champion for People
Hamilton Rowan returned to Ireland in 1784 when he was in his thirties. He lived in Rathcoffey, near Clane in north County Kildare. Even though he was wealthy, he became a strong supporter of Irish independence. He joined a local group called the Killyleagh Volunteers, which was known for wanting big changes.
He first became famous in 1788 for helping a fourteen-year-old girl named Mary Neal. He spoke out against someone who had treated her badly. He even published a pamphlet about her story. Hamilton Rowan was a tall, impressive man. His fame grew when he walked into a club in Dublin, with his large Newfoundland dog and a wooden stick, to confront people who had been mean to Mary Neal. This made him a hero to many ordinary people.
Joining the United Irishmen
In 1790, Hamilton Rowan joined the Northern Whig Club. In November 1791, he became a founding member of the Society of United Irishmen in Dublin. He worked with other important leaders like William Drennan and Theobald Wolfe Tone.
In 1792, Hamilton Rowan was arrested for spreading ideas that went against the government. He was giving out papers that encouraged the Irish Volunteers to keep their weapons, even though the group was being disbanded. The government had a spy in the United Irishmen group, but no one knew about him at the time. In 1793, Britain and Ireland joined a war against France, and the United Irishmen movement was made illegal in 1794.
In 1793, a friend of Rowan's, Thomas Muir, was sent to Botany Bay (Australia) as punishment. Papers from the United Irishmen were found with Muir, and the judge mentioned Rowan's connection to him. Rowan traveled to Edinburgh and even challenged a Scottish official to a duel. When he returned to Dublin, he was charged again with speaking out against the government. In January 1794, he was sentenced to two years in prison and a large fine. He refused to leave the United Irishmen group, even if it meant avoiding prison.
Escape and Time Away
While in prison, Hamilton Rowan met William Jackson, an Irish clergyman who was secretly working for France. Jackson was trying to find out if Ireland was ready for a revolution and a French invasion. Jackson, Tone, and others met in Hamilton Rowan's prison cell to talk about Ireland's situation.
But Jackson was betrayed by a friend and arrested in April 1794. Right after Jackson's arrest, Hamilton Rowan escaped to avoid being charged with serious crimes against the government. He tricked his jailer into letting him visit his wife. While the jailer waited, Hamilton Rowan used knotted bed sheets to climb out a window and escape on a waiting horse. He carried a razor blade, ready to fight if caught. A reward of £1000 was offered for his capture.
He took a boat to France, but when he arrived, he was immediately arrested because they thought he might be a British spy. He was questioned by Robespierre, a powerful French leader, who found him innocent and set him free. In Paris, Hamilton Rowan became good friends with Mary Wollstonecraft, a famous writer.
France became too dangerous, so Hamilton Rowan moved to Philadelphia, which was then the capital of the United States. He arrived on July 4, 1795, and met other United Irishmen who were also living away from home. He found that American politics could also be difficult. He decided to move to the more peaceful Brandywine River area in Delaware.
After leaving Ireland, Hamilton Rowan couldn't get to his money. He had to work to support himself. He borrowed money and bought a fabric mill. In Delaware, he lived a public life and met many important people. He was careful to avoid American politics because he feared being sent away under new laws that made it hard for foreigners. In 1797, his home burned down, and he lost many of his books. His business also struggled. He even worked hauling grain and flour by wheelbarrow.
During his time in America, Hamilton Rowan started writing his life story, called his Memoirs, because he wasn't sure if he would ever return to Ireland.
Thanks to his wife's efforts, he was allowed to travel to a neutral country in 1799. He moved to Hamburg, Germany, where he was reunited with his family. He kept trying to get permission to return home and was allowed to live in England from 1803.
His father passed away in 1805, and Hamilton Rowan was finally allowed to return to Ireland in 1806.
Later Life and Legacy
Hamilton Rowan returned to his family home, Killyleagh Castle, in County Down, where he was welcomed as a hero. He was a respected figure, spending time in both Killyleagh and Dublin. Even though he had promised to be a good citizen to be allowed back, he stayed active in politics and kept his strong beliefs about reform.
In 1829, after a public meeting in Dublin, a crowd lifted him up and carried him through the streets like a hero. In 1831, he wrote a letter saying that he still believed in the goals of the United Irishmen. He wanted fair representation for everyone in Parliament, showing his continued dedication to change.
Hamilton Rowan's wife died in February 1834, and his oldest son died in August of the same year. Hamilton Rowan himself passed away at his home on November 1, 1834, at the age of 84. He was buried in St Mary's Church, Dublin.
Hamilton Rowan was not able to finish his memoirs himself. After his death, his family gave his papers to a friend, who also couldn't finish them. Finally, another friend, William Hamilton Drummond, published Hamilton Rowan's Autobiography in 1840.
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