Thomas Miller Beach facts for kids

Thomas Miller Beach was an English spy. He was also known by the name Major Henri Le Caron. He was born in 1841 and passed away in 1894.

He helped the British government stop plans for an invasion of Canada in 1870. He also shared important information about Irish-American groups. He joined the Fenian Brotherhood, a group that wanted Ireland to be independent. His reports helped protect Canada from attacks between 1866 and 1871.

For 25 years, he lived in the United States, mostly in Detroit, Michigan. He sometimes visited Europe.

Early Life and Army Adventures

Thomas Beach was born in Colchester, England. When he was 19, he moved to Paris, France. There, he worked in a business that dealt with the United States.

Joining the American Civil War

In 1861, he was inspired by the American Civil War. He traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and joined the Northern army. He used the new name Henri Le Caron.

In 1864, he married a young woman. She had helped him escape from a Southern army group. By the end of the war, he had become a major.

Becoming a Spy

In 1865, a fellow soldier named John O'Neill introduced him to the Fenian Brotherhood. Beach learned about their plans to attack Canada. He wrote to his father in England about these plans.

Beach's father told his local politician. This politician then told a government official. The official asked Beach to find out more information. This is how Beach began his secret work as a spy.

Secret Work and Irish Connections

Beach was skilled in many areas, including medicine. He stayed close friends with important members of the Fenian organization for many years.

He knew about their secret plans between 1879 and 1881. In 1881, he met Charles Stewart Parnell, an Irish leader, at the House of Commons. Beach reported that Parnell seemed to discuss ideas about an armed uprising in Ireland.

Later Years and Public Reveal

The Parnell Commission in 1889 brought Beach's spying career to an end. He was called to testify by a newspaper called The Times. In court, he told his entire story. Even with strong questioning, he stuck to his testimony.

The Times lost the case, and Beach's spying days were over. Parnell, who always said he was against violence, was found innocent.

Beach wrote a book about his life called Twenty-five Years in the Secret Service. It was published in 1892 and was very popular. However, he needed constant protection. It was hard for his friends to visit him. He became sick with a serious illness and passed away on April 1, 1894. He is buried in London.