James Lysaght Finegan facts for kids
James Lysaght Finegan (1844–1900) was an interesting Irish person who had many different jobs. He was a lawyer, a soldier, a merchant (someone who trades goods), and a politician. He was known for supporting Irish independence.
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Who Was James Finegan?
James Finegan was born in 1844. He went to school with the Congregation of Christian Brothers. He was described as someone who didn't want religious leaders to have too much power in politics. His family was involved in the tea trade, which meant they bought and sold tea.
Supporting Irish Independence
Finegan strongly supported the idea of Irish Nationalism. This was a movement that wanted Ireland to be a self-governing country, free from British rule.
In 1867, a nationalist named Michael Breslin had to leave Ireland quickly to avoid being arrested. James Finegan helped him escape by giving him documents that said Breslin was a tea trader. This made it look like Breslin was traveling for business, not for political reasons.
Finegan as a Soldier
Later, James Finegan joined the French Foreign Legion. This was a special part of the French Army made up of soldiers from many different countries. He fought in the Franco-Prussian War, which was a big conflict between France and a group of German states. Finegan left the army in 1871 when the war ended.
Finegan's Time in Politics
After his military service, Finegan became involved in politics.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1879, there was a special election called a "by-election" in a place called Ennis. This election was to choose someone to represent the area in the British Parliament. Charles Stewart Parnell, a very important Irish political leader, suggested Finegan as a candidate.
Finegan was running against the candidate from the Home Rule League. This group also wanted Ireland to have more control over its own laws. Finegan won the election by a very small number of votes – just six votes out of 247 people who voted! This meant he became a Member of Parliament (MP).
Leaving Parliament
James Finegan's time in Parliament was quite short. He served for a few years, but then he resigned in 1882. This meant he chose to leave his position as a Member of Parliament.
James Finegan passed away in 1900. He is remembered for his varied life as a lawyer, a soldier, a merchant, and a politician who supported Irish independence.
