Northern Star (newspaper of the Society of United Irishmen) facts for kids
The Northern Star was a newspaper published in Belfast, Ireland, from 1792 to 1797. It was the official newspaper of the Society of United Irishmen, a group that wanted Ireland to be more independent. The newspaper was shut down in May 1797 by soldiers from Monaghan.
Contents
How the Newspaper Started
People in Ireland who wanted more freedom and new ideas had a goal. They wanted to start a newspaper that shared their views. This idea began in the late 1700s.
When the Society of United Irishmen was formed in October 1791, the newspaper project was already happening. The very first edition of the Northern Star came out in Belfast on January 1, 1792.
Many of the first people who helped pay for the Northern Star were Presbyterians, just like many members of the United Irishmen. Samuel Neilson, one of the leaders of the United Irishmen, became the newspaper's editor.
What Was in the Northern Star?
The Northern Star mostly focused on political topics. But it also printed local news, which made it very popular. Other Irish newspapers at the time usually focused on news from Britain or other countries.
Important members of the United Irishmen often wrote for the paper. They shared their political ideas and also used humor to make fun of political situations. William Orr was one of these writers. His letters eventually led to his arrest and execution.
The newspaper had a great way of being shared. Volunteers helped distribute it quickly wherever the United Irishmen started new groups. It's thought that for every copy sold, at least five people read it. This is because people often read articles aloud from the paper at United Irish meetings.
At first, powerful people who supported freedom protected the newspaper from the government. But things changed when Britain went to war with Revolutionary France in 1793. The United Irishmen were then banned because the government thought they were causing trouble. After this, the Northern Star started to get more attention from the authorities.
The newspaper was so popular that it was mostly safe from serious problems until January 1797. This was when the government became very worried after a French invasion scare at Bantry Bay. The government believed the Northern Star was connected to another small newspaper called the Union Star. This paper listed names of people who were seen as enemies of the United Irishmen. The government thought it was a dangerous list.
The Newspaper Is Shut Down
The government was worried about how widely the Northern Star was shared. They also feared its power in spreading the ideas of the United Irishmen. If someone had a copy of the paper, it could be seen as a sign that they supported rebellious ideas.
The end of the Northern Star came when the government believed the United Irishmen had secretly joined the Monaghan militia in Belfast. Four soldiers were executed because of this. General Lake, who was already trying to stop the rebellion in Ulster, blamed the Northern Star for much of the trouble. He asked for permission to shut down the paper.
However, the government didn't need to officially close the paper. On May 19, 1797, a few days after their former comrades were executed, a group of Monaghan militiamen attacked the Northern Star offices. They wanted to show their loyalty to the government. They destroyed the printing presses and the building itself.
This attack led to the end of the Northern Star. The authorities were likely happy about this, as no one was punished for destroying the newspaper's office. Later, a group called the Chartist movement honored the Northern Star by naming their own newspaper after it in 1837.
Images for kids
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The public will our guide, the public good our end - Masthead of the Northern Star
