Peter Finnerty facts for kids

Peter Finnerty (born around 1766, died May 11, 1822) was an Irish printer, publisher, and journalist. He worked in both Dublin and London. Finnerty was known for supporting ideas of reform and democracy. In Dublin, he was a strong supporter of the Society of United Irishmen. He was even put in prison during the 1798 rebellion. Later, in London, he became a campaigning reporter for The Morning Chronicle. He was imprisoned again in 1811 for writing critically about Lord Castlereagh.

Peter Finnerty: A Voice for Change in Dublin

Peter Finnerty was born in Loughrea, County Galway. His father was a trader in the town. We don't know his exact birth year, but it was likely between 1766 and 1778. He later moved to Dublin and became a printer.

Publishing The Press Newspaper

In Dublin, Finnerty became the publisher of a newspaper called The Press. This paper was started in September 1797 by Arthur O'Connor and William Sampson. It supported the ideas of the Society of United Irishmen. Finnerty worked closely with James MacHugo and Francis Dillon, who were also from Loughrea. They helped build the local United Irishmen group.

Standing Up for Justice

The Press newspaper strongly criticized the judges who sentenced William Orr to death. Orr was accused of making a soldier join the United Irishmen. The paper also criticized Lord Camden, who was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for not saving Orr. Because of this, Finnerty was put on trial for seditious libel. This means he was accused of writing things that went against the government.

His lawyer, John Philpot Curran, used the trial to speak out against how Orr was treated. In the spring of 1798, Finnerty was sentenced to stand in the pillory and spend two years in prison. The pillory was a public punishment where people stood with their head and hands locked in a wooden frame. He also had to promise to behave well for seven more years.

A Defiant Spirit

When Finnerty was taken to the pillory, important United Irishmen like Lord Edward Fitzgerald and Oliver Bond went with him. They even held an umbrella over his head. After his time in the pillory, Finnerty bravely said, "You see how cheerfully I suffer. I can suffer anything provided it promotes the liberty of my country."

However, being in prison for two years meant Finnerty could not take part in the uprisings that happened in the summer of 1798.

Peter Finnerty: A Campaigner in London

After being released from prison in 1800, Finnerty moved to London. There were some reports that he went back to Dublin in 1803 to help Robert Emmet plan another uprising. Some even said he led men in the streets during the short-lived rebellion on July 23rd. But it is generally believed that Finnerty stayed in London. There, he focused on politics and campaigning for change, rather than rebellion.

Reporting for The Morning Chronicle

In London, Finnerty found work as a reporter for The Morning Chronicle. He reported on what happened in Parliament. This work connected him with Sir Francis Burdett, a politician who supported reforms. Burdett had spoken up for Edward Despard, who was executed in 1803. Finnerty helped Burdett in his campaigns to win a seat in Parliament in 1802 and 1804.

Finnerty continued to be involved in London politics. He supported Richard Brinsley Sheridan, an Irish writer, who won a seat in 1807. In 1811, he also supported Samuel Whitbread, who was an abolitionist and wanted minimum wages.

Connecting with Radical Thinkers

Finnerty also connected with people from radical groups. These groups wanted big changes in society. He associated with followers of Thomas Spence, who believed land should be owned by everyone. Finnerty was not involved in the Spa Field Riots of 1816 or the Cato Street Conspiracy of 1820. However, in 1817, he spoke up for those accused in the Spa Field trial. He showed that one of the jurors was actually a government informer against the United Irishmen.

Challenging Powerful Figures

In 1808, Finnerty helped write a publication that revealed the sale of military jobs by the mistress of the Duke of York, the King's brother. In 1809, he reported on the failures of the Walcheren Campaign. He blamed Lord Castlereagh for these problems.

In 1811, Finnerty went further. He accused Castlereagh of allowing harsh actions during the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland. Because of this, Finnerty was found guilty of libel and sent to prison for eighteen months.

Support and Later Life

People who supported radical ideas and reforms raised money for Finnerty in London, Liverpool, Belfast, and Dublin. Percy Bysshe Shelley, a famous poet, even praised Finnerty in a message he shared in Dublin in 1812. Shelley called Finnerty a man "imprisoned for persisting in the truth." Finnerty kept the issue alive by complaining to Parliament about his prison conditions. In his complaint, he repeated his accusations against Castlereagh.

Finnerty returned to work at The Morning Chronicle. In his final years before his death in 1822, he became less involved in public life.