Rosamond Jacob facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosamond Jacob
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Jacob in May, 1912
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| Native name |
Róisín Nic Sheamuis
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| Born | Rosamond Jacob 13 October 1888 South Parade, Waterford, Ireland |
| Died | 11 October 1960 (aged 71) Dublin, Ireland |
| Pen name | F. Winthrop |
| Occupation | Writer, activist |
Rosamond Jacob (born October 13, 1888 – died October 11, 1960) was an important Irish writer and political activist. She spent her whole life working for women's right to vote, for Ireland to be an independent republic, and for fairer social systems. She also wrote many stories and books.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rosamond Jacob was born in Waterford, Ireland. Her parents, Lewis Jacob and Henrietta Harvey, were from a Quaker background, which is a Christian group known for peace and equality. However, they were also strong supporters of Irish Nationalism, which meant they wanted Ireland to be free from British rule. This sometimes made them different from other Quakers in Waterford.
Rosamond went to Quaker schools in Waterford. She was a very good student and learned several languages, including French and German. She lived in Waterford until 1920.
Becoming an Activist
As a young woman, Rosamond became very involved in groups that wanted to change Ireland. She joined the Gaelic League, which promoted the Irish language and culture. She also joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann, a group specifically for women who wanted Ireland to be independent.
In 1905, Rosamond and her brother Tom joined Sinn Féin, a major political party working for Irish independence. Rosamond even started the first Sinn Féin branch in Waterford in 1906. That same year, she began to learn and speak the Irish language, becoming very good at it.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Even though she loved the Irish language, Rosamond found that the Gaelic League was sometimes too focused on Catholic traditions, which didn't fit with her growing ideas about women's rights. So, in 1908, she joined the Irish Women's Franchise League. This group was started by her friend Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington and worked hard to get women the right to vote.
Opposing War and Supporting Peace
In the 1910s, Rosamond was against World War I. She believed it was a war fought by powerful empires, not for ordinary people. She protested against efforts to get Irish men to join the British army. She also joined Cumann na mBan, an Irish women's organization, but she felt they weren't strong enough in their opposition to British rule.
Rosamond also didn't like the Third Home Rule Bill, which was a plan for Ireland to have some self-government, because it didn't include votes for women. She believed women's suffrage was essential.
She continued her work in Waterford, helping groups like Friends’ Relief, a Quaker charity. In 1917, she went to a big Sinn Féin meeting and pushed for the party to be more committed to women's right to vote. In the 1918 election, she campaigned for Éamon de Valera, a famous Irish leader. However, she was sad when the first Irish parliament, the First Dáil, had very few women members.
Writing Her First Books
Rosamond's first novel, called Callaghan, was published in 1920. She had actually written it five years earlier, in 1915, but it took her a long time to find a publisher. She published Callaghan under the pen name "F. Winthrop." The book tells a story about two young people from different backgrounds.
After the Civil War
Rosamond was against the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which divided Ireland. She supported the side that wanted a fully independent Ireland during the Irish Civil War. However, like many people in the labor movement, she wanted peace above all else. In July 1922, she and Maud Gonne, another famous activist, led women in calling for a ceasefire, but their plea was not heard.
In 1923, Rosamond was held for her political activities because she was living in Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington's house, where Sinn Féin's publicity office was located. During this time, she shared a cell with Dorothy Macardle, who also supported the republican side.
Between 1920 and 1927, Rosamond was the secretary of the Irishwomen's International League, which worked for peace around the world. She traveled to international conferences in Vienna and Prague and helped organize a conference in Dublin. In 1926, she left Sinn Féin with De Valera and Constance Markievicz to join a new party called Fianna Fáil.
Continuing Her Activism Abroad
In the 1930s, Rosamond became increasingly unhappy with the new independent Irish state. She felt it was too strict, too focused on men, and too Catholic. Despite this, she continued her political and social work. She joined a committee for international disarmament and tried to start a group against punishment by death in Ireland.
In 1931, she visited Russia as a representative of the Irish Friends of Soviet Russia group. When she returned to Dublin, she spoke positively about what she saw there.
Rosamond was a close friend and political supporter of Frank Ryan, another Irish republican. She worked hard to help him gain freedom from Spain and later defended his reputation after he died in Nazi Germany.
Later Writings and Views
In 1937, Rosamond wrote a history book called The Rise of the United Irishmen, 1791–1794. This book looked at the United Irishmen, a group that fought for Irish independence in the late 1700s. The book was praised for its insights. Its success helped her find a publisher for her 1938 novel, The Troubled House, which she had written in 1921. This novel was set during the Irish War of Independence and offered a unique look at war and the role of men in society.
In 1957, Rosamond wrote The Rebel's Wife, a historical story told from the viewpoint of Matilda, the wife of famous Irish rebel Wolfe Tone. She couldn't find a publisher for it until she rewrote it as a historical fiction novel.
Later Life and Legacy
From at least 1942, Rosamond lived in the Rathmines area of Dublin. From 1950, she shared a house with her friend Lucy Kingston. She died in 1960 after a road accident.
Rosamond Jacob kept a diary for almost her entire life. There are 171 of these diaries, along with her other writings and political papers, kept at the National Library of Ireland. These diaries offer a wonderful look into her life and the history of Ireland during her time.
Books by Rosamond Jacob
- Callaghan 1920 (as F. Winthrop)
- The Rise of the United Irishmen 1791-94 1927
- The Troubled House 1938
- The Rebel's Wife 1957
- The Raven's Glen 1960
About Rosamond Jacob
- Lane, Dr Leeann (2010), Rosamond Jacob - Third Person Singular. UCD Press.
