Download THOMAS D`ARCY McGEE - Canada Railway Times

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
THOMAS D’ARCY McGEE
“the greatest Irishman in Canadian history”
Conor Cruise O’Brien, 1978
1825- 1868
TIMELINE
1825
1842
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1857
1858-61
1860
1862
1864
1865
Born a Roman Catholic in Ireland
Emigrated to the United States, journalist with the Boston Pilot
Editor of Boston Pilot (wanted Irish independence from UK & USA to annex Canada)
Returned to Ireland, wrote for Freeman’s Journal & The Nation
Joined Young Ireland movement
Married
Fled to USA after failed rebellion against UK
Moved to Montreal, elected to Legislative Assembly of United Canadas
United with George Brown (Liberal Protestant politician)
Snubbed by Prince of Wales at opening of Victoria Bridge, Montreal
Chaired Intercolonial Railway Conference in Quebec City
Organized tour of Maritimes for politicians from United Canadas to promote Confederation
Delegate to Charlottetown Conference & Quebec Conference for Confederation, attacked
Fenian movement in Ireland & Canada
1866
1868
1927
Not invited to the London Conference on Confederation.
Expelled from St. Patrick Society of Montreal, killed in Ottawa, only Canadian politician to be
assassinated in 19th century, given first state funeral in Canada (over 80,000 people attend
in Montreal)
First Irishman in the British Commonwealth to be put on a postage stamp (Canada)
THE JEANIE JOHNSTON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
D’Arcy McGee lived in interesting and controversial times and so many websites mislead.
They mention but fail to explain the huge issues he encountered during his times.
Useful Websites. There are many websites about D’Arcy McGee. Check your evidence.
 The Dictionary of Canadian Biography is excellent. www.biographi.ca/index-e.html.
 D’Arcy McGee Vol. I & II by David Wilson (McGill-Queen’s University Press). Read the short
reviews of Wilson’s books at www.mqup.mcgill.ca/ .
 An article by William Davis about McGee (Google: Thomas D’Arcy McGee: look for Tripod).
 The Irish Famine‘s economic, social and political impact on Canada is at www.irishfamine.ca .
Literally millions of people left Ireland in the 50 years following the Potato Famine. They had to
emigrate to survive, but where should they go? McGee, an influential newspaper man, first
suggested migration to the USA, but later said that Canada was a better option. The Irish in
North America became a large political force and were resented.
Confederation. Despite what many websites claim, it was not inevitable that the colonies
unite, nor that a federal system of government would be adopted. Did McGee play a pivotal role,
or was he simply a great orator who reflected the opinions of others?
Protestant-Catholic Conflicts. In the 19th century, Catholic-Protestant conflict was present in
Canada, the United States, Britain, Ireland, and most European countries. Contrary to what is
often written about Canadian history, the Protestant-Catholic conflict was deeper and greater
than the French-English conflict of the time. While U.S. websites seldom mention anti-Catholic
discrimination, we should remember that states such as New Hampshire did not allow Catholics
to vote until the 1860s, and no state in the USA allowed public funds to be used for Catholic
schools. This was not the case in Canada. However, then, as now, the right of the parent to
choose education was a source of bitter conflict. McGee grappled with the problems of his
Catholic minority in a Protestant world.
North America & Britain. In the 19th century, Britain, not the United States, was the richest
and most powerful country in the world. However, the victorious North after the Civil War felt
that Canada and Britain had hindered victory over the South. Many advocated the invasion of
Canada. (see Amanda Foreman, A World On Fire). While most Americans thought they had a
“Manifest Destiny” to rule over all of North America, they feared British sea power. McGee
grappled with the problem of a smaller Canada facing the growing imperialism of the American
Empire.
Railways shaped and explained Canada at this time. See www.canadarailwaytimes.com . The
changes brought by railways from the GTR (Grand Trunk) of the 1850s through the Intercolonial
Railway of the 1870s to the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) of the 1880s were enormous. McGee
had the largest funeral in Canada up to that time because the Grand Trunk Railway shipped
thousands of people to Montreal for the event. Few modern Canadians would ever draw 80,000
to their funeral.
THE JEANIE JOHNSTON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION