The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero

John Donnellan Balfe, a former friend and confidant of Meagher, had betrayed the Young Irelander cause by acting as an informant for the British. Now, with letters of introduction from high-ranking officials, he settled in Tasmania, hoping to capitalize on the land grant he had received as a reward for his treachery.

Meanwhile, Meagher adapted to life on Lake Sorell, devoting his time to farming and writing even as his thoughts frequently turned to the plight of Ireland and his friends. A chance encounter with Dr. Edward Hall and his governess, Catherine Bennett, introduced a new element to Meagher’s life. Catherine, the daughter of a transported convict, captivated Meagher with her beauty and presence. Despite the social stigma attached to marrying outside of his class, Meagher courted and eventually married her.

John Mitchel, another Young Irelander, arrived in Tasmania after a grueling journey from Bermuda. His health, weakened by asthma, initially suffered, but he found solace by reuniting with Meagher, Kevin O’Doherty, and John Martin at Lake Sorell, where the exiles shared a night of camaraderie and laughter, reminiscing about their homeland and their shared struggles.

Governor Denison, angered by the prisoners’ ability to meet and enjoy each other’s company, imposed stricter rules on them. Later, he punished Patrick O’Donoghue, Kevin O’Doherty, and Terence MacManus with hard labor for attempting to visit O’Brien. Meagher narrowly avoided punishment but was affected by the harsh treatment of his friends. The governor's actions, however, were increasingly undermined by the local population’s growing sympathy for the Irish rebels and the island’s move towards self-governance.

When O’Donoghue discovered Balfe’s presence, the Irish exiles were outraged. Meagher, writing under the pseudonym “Virginius,” exposed Balfe’s betrayal in the local press, inciting public protests against him. Despite Balfe’s attempts to defend himself, his reputation was irreparably damaged.

Meagher's happy marriage and the impending birth of the couple’s first child fueled his desire for freedom. Inspired by MacManus’s successful escape to America, Meagher planned his own escape, arranging for Catherine to follow him and reunite in America. On January 3, 1852, Meagher sent a formal resignation from his parole to the district magistrate, setting the stage for his escape from Van Diemen’s Land.

Meagher embarked on his journey on the evening of January 3, 1852, just after he received word that constables were on their way to arrest him. Meagher and his allies hid in the woods, and when the coast was clear, he mounted his horse and rode off, announcing his escape with a shout.

Meagher and his companions navigated through the bush and mountains, stopping briefly at the hut of a shepherd named Job Sims, where Meagher shaved off his mustache to change his appearance. By Sunday evening, Meagher reached Westbury, where he found support from Irish settlers and paroled convicts. On Monday, he made his way to the mouth of the Tamar River, where he met two fishermen who had been paid to take him to Waterhouse Island in Bass Strait.

For several days, Meagher waited on Waterhouse Island, surviving on meager rations and battling the elements. He encountered a feral dog, which became his only companion. The escape plan's precision was crucial, as any misstep could lead to failure or capture. Finally, Meagher spotted a large sailing ship, the Elizabeth Thompson, approaching the island.

The ship's crew, led by Captain Betts, welcomed Meagher aboard. To maintain secrecy, Meagher pretended to be a paying traveler rather than a political prisoner on the run. As Meagher sailed towards freedom, Governor Denison, who had been outraged by Meagher's escape, was reassigned by his English superiors.

In 1852, Meagher arrived in New York City, a chaotic and vibrant place teeming with diverse people from all over the world. With its bustling streets and varied immigrant populations, New York contrasted significantly with the penal colony he had left behind. As he walked through the city, he saw many familiar faces from his homeland. The Irish community in New York was substantial, with political power held by recent Irish immigrants. Meagher made his way to the offices of Richard O'Gorman and John Blake Dillon, fellow Young Irelanders who had also fled to America and become successful lawyers.

New York's Irish population was significant, but they were living in poor conditions, particularly in the infamous Five Points neighborhood, known for its squalor and crime. Despite this, they had a strong sense of community and resilience. Meagher's arrival generated a lot of excitement. News of his escape from Tasmania had spread, and he was seen as a hero and potential leader for the Irish in America. He received numerous invitations to speak as New York Times and other newspapers lauded his arrival. Meagher’s presence also inspired the formation of Meagher clubs and militias across the country. Despite the adulation, Meagher was reluctant to get involved in politics, focusing instead on finding a way to support himself. During his first lecture in New York's Metropolitan Hall, he drew a massive crowd and was handsomely paid, marking the beginning of his career as a public speaker. He traveled extensively, giving speeches and rallying support for the Irish cause.

Meagher's wife, Catherine, who had stayed behind in Tasmania, gave birth to a son, but died shortly after due to complications. Meagher was devastated by the news, which reached him months later. He was determined to bring his son to America, but his fugitive status complicated matters. In Tasmania, Patrick O'Donoghue and John Mitchel also escaped, eventually making their way to the US. O’Donoghue’s reunion with Meagher was marred by O'Donoghue's tragic decline and eventual death, but Mitchel started a newspaper, continuing his radical advocacy.

Meagher and his fellow exiles found new purpose in America though their ultimate goal of returning to a free Ireland remained elusive, as the British government refused to pardon the escapees. Meagher, now fully immersed in American life, decided instead to fight for freedom in his adopted country.

Meagher drank heavily in New York, weighed down by personal issues such as the death of his wife and the realization that he could never return to Ireland. The saloon was a refuge, but soon his drinking became purposeless and excessive.

The Know-Nothings, a nativist political party opposing immigrants and Catholics, aggressively attacked Meagher. They heckled him during speeches and slandered him in the press. The Know-Nothings quickly gained significant political power; by 1855, they were the second-largest political party in the United States, advocating for extreme measures to restrict immigration and delay citizenship.

Meagher's relationship with the Catholic Church became strained. He criticized the Church's interference in political matters and resented its stance during his rebellion in Ireland. His faith remained, but he scorned the men who ran the Church. This tension culminated in a public confrontation with James McMaster, editor of the Catholic Freeman's Journal newspaper. In a physical altercation, McMaster fired a gun at Meagher, grazing his forehead. The incident left Meagher disillusioned and humbled.

In November 1854, Meagher almost died in a train accident in Michigan. The collision left many dead and injured, but Meagher survived, helping other victims in the aftermath.

Meagher met Elizabeth Townsend, a young woman from a wealthy and prominent family. Their relationship defied social norms, as she was Protestant and from a different social class. Despite this, they fell in love. Meagher wrote to Elizabeth, confessing his past failures and his hopes for their future together. Elizabeth converted, and they married on November 14, 1855, despite her father's strong disapproval. Meagher studied for the bar and became a lawyer, using his oratory skills in the courtroom. He also became a naturalized American citizen, defying the Know-Nothings and embracing his new country with vigor.

As tensions escalated in the United States over slavery, violence erupted. In Kansas, pro- and anti-slavery forces clashed. John Brown's violent uprising and Preston Brooks's attack on Senator Charles Sumner exemplified the nation's divisions. The 1857 Supreme Court Dred Scott decision further inflamed the conflict by ruling that Black Americans could never be US citizens, reinforcing the South's pro-slavery stance and prompting Abraham Lincoln to re-enter politics.

Meagher’s ideas about enslavement echoed those of the Democratic Party, which were slavery apologists, unlike the pro-abolition Republicans: He maintained that while slavery was unfortunate, it was entrenched in the US. Meanwhile, John Mitchel became a vocal proponent of slavery, alienating many, including social reformer and abolitionist writer Frederick Douglass.

Meagher established the Irish News in 1856, giving voice to Irish immigrants and advocating for their westward migration to escape New York's slums. Irish people in America, led by figures like Michael Corcoran, faced accusations of divided loyalty, particularly when Corcoran refused to honor the Prince of Wales. Meagher defended Corcoran, emphasizing Irish Americans’ loyalty to their adopted country while condemning British oppression. In 1861, when the Southern states seceded, New York Mayor Fernando Wood suggested the city become a free city-state. After the attack on Fort Sumter, Meagher would shift his stance, committing to the Union cause as the nation moved inexorably toward civil war.