Guide to the Papers of William Smith O'Brien (as filmed by the AJCP), 1829-1860
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Collection context
Summary
- Collection number:
- M1980 - M2003
- Extent:
- 123 items
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
- Availability:
- Available
- Access conditions:
- Available for reference.
Background
- Content Summary:
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Journals and diaries 1849-1853 kept in Tasmania, including a description of part of his voyage from Ireland to Australia in 1849 on the Swift.
Notes and speeches on such subjects as emigration to colonies, land sales, wages, and transportation.
Letters written from Tasmania describing: his voyage to Australia; imprisonment; Australian goldrushes; Irish affairs; education; and appearance of the wombat and kangaroo rat. Recipients include Lucy O'Brien, Lady O'Brien and William O'Brien.
Correspondence 1832-1859 including letters of W. Hutt, Sir Wilmot Horton, C. Gavan Duffy, K. O'Doherty, T.F. Meagher, W. Carter and J. Motherwell. They refer to: Limerick Emigration Society; E.G. Wakefield; Irish emigration to Australia; Land Emigration Board; and the activities of Irish political prisoners in Tasmania.
- Biographical / Historical:
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William Smith O'Brien (1803-1864). Son of Sir Edward O'Brien, 4th Bart. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. M.P. 1828-1848. Originally a Tory, he gradually shifted to a more radical stance, especially on Irish questions. In 1843 he joined Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association but in 1846 he and the other Young Irelanders seceded and found the Irish Confederation. In July 1848 O'Brien toured southern Ireland to gain support for a planned insurrection and at Ballingarry he led an abortive attack on a body of police. He was arrested and in October 1848 convicted of high treason. The death sentence was commuted to transportation for life and he sailed for Tasmania in July 1849. Originally confined to Maria Island and Pt. Arthur, he was eventually induced to accept a ticket of leave and lived at New Norfolk and Avoca. In 1854 he was granted a conditional pardon and settled in Brussels. After receiving an unconditional pardon in 1856 he returned to Ireland. O'Brien took no further part in politics, although he lectured and wrote for the Nation.
Access and use
- Conditions Governing Access:
- Available for Access.
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
- Preferred citation:
-
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
- Location of this collection:
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Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: