William Orr (United Irishman) facts for kids

William Orr (1766 – 14 October 1797) was an Irish revolutionary. He was a member of the United Irishmen. He was executed in 1797. Many people at the time believed his execution was unfair. It was seen as a "judicial murder," meaning he was killed by law, but wrongly. His memory became a powerful rallying cry: "Remember Orr" during the 1798 rebellion.

William Orr: A Story of Courage

Who Was William Orr?

William Orr was born in 1766 in Farranshane, County Antrim, Ireland. He came from a comfortable Presbyterian farming family. This meant he received a good education. People remembered him for his height, standing over 6 feet tall. He always dressed neatly, often wearing a green necktie. He was very popular, especially among the Northern Presbyterian patriots.

Orr became active in the Irish Volunteers. This was a group that wanted more rights for Irish people. Later, he joined the Society of United Irishmen. This group aimed for greater independence for Ireland. In the mid-1790s, he wrote articles for their newspaper, the Northern Star.

His Important Trial

William Orr was arrested and charged at Carrickfergus Courthouse. He was accused of asking a soldier, Hugh Wheatly, to join the United Irishmen. This was a very serious crime at the time. A new law in 1796 made it punishable by death. The government saw this as a dangerous act. They believed it was an attempt to turn soldiers against the government.

The United Irishmen knew Orr had not done this. Another witness, Jamie Hope, also knew he was innocent. The soldier, Wheatly, lied under oath. It was known that Wheatly was not a trustworthy person. The person who actually asked the soldier to join was William McKeever. McKeever later escaped to America.

Many people believed the government wanted to make an example of Orr. They hoped it would stop others from joining the United Irishmen. An English artist named George Cumberland wrote about the unfairness. He said, "Great Britain is hanging the Irish."

A Powerful Speech

William Orrs lawyer was John Philpot Curran. Curran gave a very famous speech during the trial. He argued strongly for Orr's innocence.

The only evidence against Orr came from the soldier, Wheatly. Despite Curran's strong defense, Orr was found guilty. The judge, Yelverton, was even said to have cried when he gave the death sentence. However, Orr's friend, the poet William Drennan, was disgusted by this. He said, "I hate those Yelvertonian tears."

Orr's Last Words

Before his execution, William Orr gave a powerful speech. He spoke about his innocence and his love for his country. He said he was sentenced to die at 31 years old. He believed the jury was not fair. He prayed for them if they had made a mistake.

Orr stated that the law he was dying under was very harsh. He denied being a criminal. He said his life showed he was not seeking money. He believed that if loving his country and fighting for its rights was a crime, then he was guilty. But otherwise, he was innocent.

He spoke about his wife, who was very sad. He also mentioned his five children. He hoped they would love their country as he did. He wanted them to be ready to die for it if needed.

Orr also corrected a false newspaper report. The report claimed he had confessed to being guilty. He said he was asked to confess but refused. He stated he was proud of his innocence. He hoped his countrymen would remember him. He wanted them to stay true to their cause. He died in peace, believing in the success of his cause.

His Legacy

William Orr was hanged in Carrickfergus on October 14, 1797. His execution was delayed three times. A large military guard surrounded him. It is said that the people of the town left on the day of his execution. They did this to show their sadness and anger. They felt he was being "murdered by law."

His death made people across the country very angry. Writers of the time spoke about it with strong words. For many years, the cry of the United Irishmen was: "Remember Orr." A journalist named Peter Finnerty wrote against the judge and government. He was later found guilty of writing against the government.

Orr is seen as the first martyr of the United Irishmen. A martyr is someone who dies for a cause. Before his own execution in 1798, Henry Joy McCracken gave a ring to his sister. The ring had "Remember Orr" written inside it. This was the same cry used by the rebels he led in the Battle of Antrim.

The poet William Drennan wrote a poem about Orr's death: hapless land! Heap of uncementing sand! Crumbled by a foreign weight: And, by worse, domestic hate.

Historian Guy Beiner has studied William Orr's place in history. He notes how Orr's story shows a complex way people remember and sometimes forget the past.