James Napper Tandy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Napper Tandy
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | February 1739 |
| Died | 24 August 1803 (aged 64) |
| Resting place | Castlebellingham, County Louth, Ireland |
| Occupation | Soldier, United Irishman, Politician |
| Known for | Founder of Society of United Irishmen |
James Napper Tandy (born February 1739 – died 24 August 1803), often called Napper Tandy, was an important Irish leader. He helped start the United Irishmen, a group that wanted to make Ireland a republic. Because of his efforts to lead a rebellion with help from France, he had to live in exile, first in the United States and then in France.
Contents
Early Life and Political Beginnings
Napper Tandy was born in Dublin, Ireland, in February 1739. His family were Protestants, and his father was an ironmonger (someone who sells iron goods). He went to a famous Quaker school in Ballitore, Kildare. Later, he became a small shopkeeper in Dublin.
Tandy became involved in politics and was chosen to be a member of the Dublin Corporation. This was like a city council for Dublin. He became well-known for speaking out against corruption in the city government. He also suggested that people in Ireland should stop buying English goods. This was a way to protest against the unfair rules that the British government placed on Irish trade.
Leading the Fight for Reform
In 1780, Tandy was part of the Irish Volunteers, a group of armed citizens. He was expelled from this group after suggesting they remove a powerful leader, the Duke of Leinster. Tandy was a key member of a small group of revolutionaries, mostly shopkeepers, who wanted to change how Ireland was governed. They formed a committee in 1784 to push for reforms and organized a meeting of representatives from all over Ireland.
Tandy worked with another politician, John Binns, to convince the Dublin Corporation to speak out against new trade rules proposed by the British Prime Minister, Pitt. Tandy also joined the Whig Club, a political group. He was part of the more radical side of this club. He worked closely with Theobald Wolfe Tone to create the Society of the United Irishmen in 1791. Tandy became the first secretary of this important group.
Facing Trouble and Planning a Revolution
Napper Tandy's strong beliefs, which were inspired by the French Revolution, began to attract the attention of the authorities. In 1792, a disagreement with the Attorney General of Ireland led to Tandy challenging him to a duel. This was seen as a serious offense by the House of Commons. They issued a warrant for his arrest. Tandy managed to avoid being caught until the warrant expired.
He then tried to take legal action against the Lord Lieutenant for trying to arrest him. Even though he didn't win the case, it made him more popular. The Society of the United Irishmen even paid his legal costs.
Support for the French Revolution was growing quickly in Ireland. Many people wanted similar changes. Tandy played a big part in forming a new military group in Ireland, similar to the French National Guards. This group believed in republican ideas, meaning they wanted Ireland to be a republic without a king. Their uniform even featured a cap of liberty instead of a crown.
Tandy also tried to unite the United Irishmen with another group called the Defenders. The Defenders were a Catholic society involved in local protests and political actions. Tandy took an oath to join the Defenders to bring the groups together.
In 1793, Tandy was going to be tried for distributing a pamphlet that was against the government in County Louth. The government also found out he had taken the Defenders' oath. Facing these legal problems, he moved around Dublin often to avoid arrest. In 1795, he left Ireland and went to the United States.
Return to Ireland and Exile Again
In 1798, Tandy traveled to Paris, France. Many Irish people who had fled Ireland were gathered there, including Wolfe Tone. They were planning a rebellion in Ireland with help from the French army.
The French government gave Tandy a small warship. He sailed from Dunkirk with a few other United Irishmen, a small group of soldiers, and a lot of weapons. He arrived at Arranmore island, off the coast of County Donegal, on 16 September 1798.
However, the area was not very populated, and people there were not very eager to join the fight. Tandy took control of the small village of Rutland. He raised an Irish flag and announced his plans. But when he heard that another French invasion force had been defeated, he realized his mission was hopeless.
Tandy sailed his ship around the north of Scotland to avoid the British navy. He safely reached Bergen. He then traveled with a few friends to Hamburg, a free port city. The British government demanded that Hamburg arrest Tandy and his companions. Even though France threatened Hamburg if they did, Hamburg agreed to the British demand. In 1799, Tandy was brought back to England as a prisoner.
Later Life and Legacy
On 12 February 1800, Tandy was put on trial in Dublin and was found not guilty. He remained in Lifford Jail until April 1801. He was then tried again for his landing on Rutland Island, which was considered an act against the government. He admitted he was guilty and was sentenced to death.
However, Tandy was pardoned and allowed to go to France instead. This might have been because there were questions about whether Hamburg had the legal right to hand him over. Also, Napoleon, the leader of France, strongly pushed for Tandy's release. Some even say Napoleon made Tandy's freedom a condition for signing an important peace treaty.
Tandy supported the Haitian Revolution, where enslaved people fought for their freedom. He was against France trying to stop it, saying, "we are all of the same family, black and white, the work of the same creator."
Even though he had some personal flaws, Napper Tandy was seen as an honest and sincere person. His name became famous in the popular Irish song "The Wearing of the Green", showing how much he inspired people who wanted change in Ireland.
In France, his release was seen as a victory for French diplomacy. When he died on 24 August 1803 in Bordeaux, his funeral was a big event. The entire army in the area and many citizens attended. There are stories that Tandy's remains were later secretly brought back to Ireland and buried in an unmarked grave at Castlebellingham Parish Church in County Louth. His wife was buried in Julianstown, County Meath, and her gravestone mentions Napper Tandy as an "Irish Patriot and General French Army."
