In the young Irish disorders, in Ireland in 1848 the following nine men were captured, tried and convicted of treason against Her Majesty, the Queen and were sentenced to death. John Mitchell. Morris Lyene, Pat Donahue, Thomas McGee, Charles Duffy, Thomas Meagher, Richard O’Gorman, Terrance McManus, and Michael Ireland.

Before passing sentence, the judge asked if there was anything that anyone wished to say. Meagher, speaking for all, said: “My lord, this is our first offense, but not our last. If you will be easy on us this once, we promise, on our word as gentlemen, to try to do better next time. And the next time-sure we won’t be fools and get caught.”

There upon the indignant sentenced then all to hang by the neck until dead and drawn and quartered. Passionate protest from all the world forced Queen Victoria to commute the sentence to transportation for life to a far wild Australia.

In 1874, word reached the astounded Queen Victoria that Sir Charles Duffy who had been elected Prime Minister of Australia was the same Charles Duffy who had been transported 25 years before. On the Queens demand, the records of the rest of the transported men were revealed and this is what was uncovered:

Thomas Frances Meagher- Governor of Montana

Terrance McManus- Brigadier General, United States Army

Patrick Donahue- Brigadier General, United States Army

Richard O’Gorman- Governor General of Newfoundland

Morris Lyene- Attorney General of Australia, in which office Michael Ireland succeeded him.

Thomas D’Arcy McGee- Member of Parliament, Montreal and Minister of Agriculture and President of Counsel Dominion Canada

John Mitchell- Prominent  New York politician. This man was the father of John Purroy Mitchell, Mayor of New York, at the outbreak of World War I.