Charles Stewart Parnell
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Charles Stewart Parnell MP
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Member of Parliament
for Meath |
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| In office 21 April 1875 – 5 April 1880 |
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| Preceded by | John Martin |
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| Succeeded by | Alexander Martin Sullivan |
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Member of Parliament
for Cork City |
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| In office 5 April 1880 – 6 October 1891 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Philip Ronayne |
| Succeeded by | Martin Flavin |
| Majority | 1,505 (26.11%) |
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| Born | 27 June 1846 County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Died | 6 October 1891 Brighton, England |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Home Rule League |
| Spouse | Katherine O'Shea (1875-1891) |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Religion | Anglican |
Charles Stewart Parnell (27 June 1846 – 6 October 1891) was an Irish Anglican politician in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which was at his time included Ireland. He started the Irish Parliamentary Party. He played an important part in the fight for Ireland's fight for self-government.
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[change] Background
Charles Stewart Parnell was born in Avondale, County Wicklow. His family was upper class. He was the seventh child of John Henry Parnell and his American wife Delia Tudor Stewart. Parnell's great-grandmother was in the Tudor family so he was related to the British Royal Family.[1].
His parents separated when he was six. He was sent to different schools in England, where he was unhappy. His father died in 1859 and he inherited his fortune. He then studied at Cambridge University (1865-9) but never graduated.
[change] Member of Parliament
Charles Stewart Parnell was first elected to the House of Commons, as a Home Rule League MP for Meath, on 21 April 1875. During his first year Parnell mostly stayed quiet and watched. He first drew attention in 1876 when he said a group of Irish rebels called Fenians (who were accused of killing a police officer) did not kill anyone.
[change] Home Rule
Parnell fought for Ireland's right to be self governing Home Rule Movement. At first he met with Fenians, but he later decided to work with Michael Davitt. He was elected president of Davitt's movement, (called the "Land League") on 21 October 1879. After becoming the MP for Cork City, he formed a new group with ideas from many other groups called the Irish National League which later became the Irish Parliamentary Party. Although Ireland did not become its own nation for many years, Parnell's work in Parliament pushed Ireland much closer to their goal by unifying Irish politics.
[change] Kitty O'Shea
On 24 December 1889 Captain William O’Shea decided to divorce his wife Katherine O'Shea, saying that she had an affair and three children with Parnell. Parnell did not try to stop the divorce. Because divorce is not allowed by Catholics, many Catholics who supported Parnell did not like him anymore and he became less popular.
[change] His final days
Parnell married Katherine in 1891. The damage from his affair caused many people to lose respect for him, and he became less powerful. Many members of his party left him. He died on 6 October 1891 of a heart attack and in the arms of his wife. He was only 45 years old.
[change] References
- ↑ Bew, Paul, Parnell, Charles Stewart (1846-1891), politician and landowner , Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press (2004-5)
