Hugh Corvin facts for kids

Hugh Christopher Corvin (born December 25, 1899 – died September 1975) was an important Irish republican leader. He was born in Belfast, Ireland.

Early Life and Activism

Hugh Corvin was born on Christmas Day in 1899. His father, Peter Corvin, was a police officer. When Hugh was 15, he started working for the tax office in Dublin.

While in Dublin, he joined two important groups. He became part of the Gaelic League, which worked to promote the Irish language. He also joined the Irish Volunteers, a group that wanted Ireland to be independent. Corvin took part in the Easter Rising in 1916. This was a major event where Irish nationalists tried to gain independence from British rule.

Role in Irish Independence

During the Irish War of Independence, Corvin was active in Galway. In 1920, he returned to Belfast. There, he became a key member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was in charge of supplies for their northern division.

After the war, a peace agreement called the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed. Corvin did not agree with this treaty. He became the IRA's secretary in Belfast in 1923. Around this time, he was arrested and held in a special camp called Larne. While there, he became a leader for other IRA members who also opposed the treaty. He was later moved to Derry Gaol.

While in prison, Corvin ran for a political position in the 1924 United Kingdom general election. He represented the Sinn Féin party in Belfast North. However, he did not win the election.

After Release and Business Career

Corvin was released from prison on Christmas Eve 1924. After his release, the IRA in northern Ireland was reorganized. He became the first leader of the new Belfast Brigade.

While he was in prison, Corvin studied to become an accountant. After his release, he started his own company, which became known as Corvin & Co. In 1926, he decided to leave his roles in the IRA. He wanted to focus more on his growing business.

Community and Political Involvement

Hugh Corvin was very proud of his Irish heritage. He spoke the Irish language at home. He was also very active in the Gaelic Athletic Association, which promotes traditional Irish sports. He held several important positions in the Belfast branch of the Gaelic League.

In the 1930s, Corvin started supporting a political party called Fianna Fáil. He also played a leading role in a group called the Northern Council for Unity. This group worked to bring together different nationalist ideas.

Corvin continued to be involved in politics. In 1942, he helped Eamon Donnelly win a seat in the Northern Ireland Parliament. The next year, Corvin himself ran for a seat in the British Parliament. However, he did not win this election either.

Even though he was no longer in the IRA, Corvin remained connected to some of its members. During World War II, he helped create the Green Cross Fund. This fund provided support to the families of republican prisoners. In 1946, he helped carry the coffin at the funeral of Seán McCaughey. McCaughey was the last person to die on hunger strike in independent Ireland.

Hugh Corvin's son, Donal, later became a well-known DJ and music journalist.