William Duckett (United Irishman) facts for kids

William Duckett (1768–1841) was a journalist who supported big changes in society. He was also a member of the United Irishmen, a group that wanted Ireland to be independent. Some people in this group thought he might be secretly working for the British government.

Early Life and Education

William Duckett was born in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. He went to school at the Irish College at Paris in France. He even earned a scholarship to Sainte-Barbe, another college there. He left Sainte-Barbe just a week after the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. This event was a big part of the French Revolution.

Helping the United Irishmen

In 1794, a journalist named William Jackson was arrested in Dublin. Jackson was an envoy, or messenger, for a powerful French government group. He was working with the United Irishmen. William Duckett carried a large sum of money from this French group to Dublin. The money was meant to help pay for Jackson's defense.

Duckett also wrote for the Northern Star. This was a newspaper in Belfast that supported the United Irishmen. He used the pen name "Junius Redivivus" for his articles. He later said that these writings made it wise for him to leave Ireland. By 1796, he was living in Paris.

Suspicions and Challenges

While in Paris, another important Irish leader, Tone, thought William Duckett was a spy. Tone complained that Duckett gave reports to the French government before he could. He also said Duckett kept showing up where important officials were. Duckett would try to talk to Tone and even spoke English to him, which revealed Tone's secret identity.

Later, when Tone was going to Brest with a French general, Duckett was there too. He wanted to go with them, but he was not allowed to board the ship. Historians believe Tone's suspicions might have come from Duckett being too eager.

In 1798, it was reported that Duckett was sent to Hamburg with money. This money was supposedly for a rebellion in the British navy. The Irish parliament even declared him an outlaw. These actions should have shown he was truly on their side. However, some still suspected him of betraying other Irish leaders in Hamburg. It was a time when many people were suspected of being traitors, even if they were innocent.

Life as a Professor in Paris

Around 1803, William Duckett returned to Paris. He married a Danish lady who was connected to a royal family. He then became a professor at the collège Sainte-Barbe, the same college he attended earlier. One of his students, Du Rozoir, spoke highly of him. He said Duckett was very good at classical studies and had an amazing memory. Duckett made lessons on Shakespeare and Milton interesting by comparing them to ancient writers.

Even though he seemed to avoid other Irish people in Paris, Du Rozoir said Duckett disliked England. He also greatly admired the French Revolution.

Later Years and Family

By 1819, William Duckett was no longer connected with Sainte-Barbe. He taught English literature classes. He also taught classes for girls using the Lancasterian system, which was a new way of teaching many students at once. Between 1816 and 1821, he published poems about different events. These included the death of Princess Charlotte and the independence of Greece and South America. He also published a new English grammar book in 1828.

William Duckett passed away in Paris in 1841 after a long illness. He was quoting his favorite writer, Horace, on his deathbed.

He had two sons. Alexander was a doctor. His other son, William (1803–1873), became a French journalist. This William translated German books and helped create a large encyclopedia called the Dictionnaire de la Conversation. William the younger had a son named William Alexander (1831–1863). He also worked on the encyclopedia and published a book about French monuments. William the younger also had a daughter, Mathilde (1842–1884?). She studied art, showed her work at the Paris Salon, and taught drawing.