George Cummins (United Irishmen) facts for kids
George Cummins (born between 1768 and 1770 – died 1830), sometimes spelled George Cummings, was a Scotch-Irish American who lived in Ireland during a time of big changes. He was part of a group called the Society of United Irishmen that wanted a more fair government. After a rebellion, he moved back to the United States and became involved in American politics with the Democratic-Republican Party.
Early Life
George Cummins was born in North Carolina around 1768 or 1770. His family was wealthy and owned land. They were Scotch-Irish Americans who had moved to America in the early 1700s. Because his family had connections in both America and Ireland, they owned land in both places.
When George was about 22, he inherited land in County Down, Ireland. He decided to move there permanently. He wanted to become a doctor, so he went to medical college in Edinburgh, Scotland. After he finished his studies, he moved to Kildare, Ireland, to work as an apothecary, which is like a pharmacist.
The United Irishmen Society
The Society of United Irishmen was started in 1791 in Belfast and Dublin. People were inspired by America's independence and by Thomas Paine's ideas about freedom. This group included different kinds of people, like Presbyterians and Anglicans, who wanted to work with Ireland's Catholic majority. Their main goal was to get a parliament in Dublin that truly represented all the people of Ireland. Important founding members included Wolfe Tone, Samuel Neilson, and William Drennan.
In the mid-1790s, Lord Edward Fitzgerald moved near Kildare town. He had fought in the American Revolutionary War. Even though he wasn't a United Irishman yet, his home became a place where people with new ideas often met. George Cummins and other important leaders, like Arthur O’Connor, often visited Lord Edward.
When the government refused to make changes, Lord Edward and the United Irish leaders started planning for a major uprising. In the spring of 1798, Lord Edward was in hiding, and he chose Cummins to take his place as the Society's Secretary.
The 1798 Rebellion and Moving to America
In March 1798, George Cummins went to Dublin for a meeting with other senior leaders of the United Irishmen. They met at the house of Oliver Bond to talk about the upcoming uprising and if France might help them. However, one person at the meeting was a government informant. He told the authorities about the meeting.
Major Sirr arrived and arrested Cummins and the other leaders. This arrest greatly weakened the organization. Many of their leaders were already in prison, or they were in Europe.
Even so, the uprising began in May. George Cummins was replaced as the leader in Kildare by Michael Reynolds. The rebellion started in Kildare and spread to other parts of Ireland. In the end, the uprising failed, and many people were hurt or killed.
George Cummins faced legal trouble in Dublin. He was found guilty of serious charges and was held for two years at Fort George in Scotland with 19 other rebels. He was released in 1800.
In 1802, he left Ireland from Newry, County Down, and moved to the United States. He settled in New York City with his family. There, he joined other former United Irishmen, like William James MacNeven and Thomas Addis Emmet. He was an active member of the United Irish Society in Brooklyn and gave speeches at their events.
He also became very involved in American politics. He joined the new Democratic-Republican party in New York. He supported James Madison in the 1812 Presidential Election.
George Cummins worked as a doctor in Manhattan until he passed away. He also served as the New York City Health Inspector. He died in 1830. He and Thomas Addis Emmet are buried at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery.
