He was born 24 May 1774 in Dublin, descended of an ancient Catholic family from Co. Westmeath, the Magans of Umma-more (Emoe). His grandfather, James Magan, established a medical practice in Dublin, where he was succeeded by his eldest son, Richard. Thomas Magan, James's second son, became a woollen draper, establishing himself at 49 High Street, Dublin. Active politically, Thomas represented Dundalk at the Catholic Convention of 1792. He was named wool draper and mercer to King George III in 1794, an honorary title he probably owed to his friend Francis Higgins, a notorious scoundrel known as the "Sham Squire", owner of a well-known government "print" (newspaper), The Freeman's Journal.[1]
Returning to Dublin in 1796, he was admitted to the Irish Bar, the King's Inns, in Michelmas term. The published records of the King's Inns state that he had been employed in the Irish revenue service.
Magan's historical notoriety originates from a single act. During April–May 1798 he informed the British government several times of the whereabouts of Lord Edward Fitzgerald on Thomas Street, just as the latter prepared to take the field at the head of thousands of Croppies during the 1798 Rising. Lord Edward's arrest on 19 May deprived the United Irishmen of their most charismatic leader, on whose head the British had put a price of £1,000, equivalent to £1.5m in 2015.
Magan passed this to the Castle without being discovered or even suspected during his lifetime, probably because of his otherwise unremarkable life. He had found out Lord Edward's whereabouts through his involvement with the United Irishmen, being a member of to its committee responsible for Dublin. He hosted a meeting of this committee on the night of 17 May 1798. Lord Edward attended and may have passed the night in Magan's house. Magan sold this information on to Dublin Castle the next day, provoking Major Sirr with a body of soldiers to apprehend Lord Edward as he departed from the rear of 20 Usher's Island at dusk. Given further information by Magan, Sirr found Lord Edward suffering from fever in 153 Thomas Street and shot him during a struggle, and he died in Newgate Prison, Dublin, some days later.
It was only with the publication of W. J. Fitzpatrick's Secret Service Under Pitt a century later in 1892 that Magan was unveiled as the traitor. Francis Higgins was paid the £1,000 for betraying Lord Edward, and Magan got £300 a year.[2]
^Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press. 2009. ISBN978-0-521-63331-4.
^De Burca, Seamus (1988). "The Man Who Betrayed Lord Edward Fitzgerald". Dublin Historical Record. 41 (4): 152–156. JSTOR 30100877.
March 01, 2023
francis, magan, 1774, 1843, barrister, informer, procured, death, lord, edward, fitzgerald, through, felon, setting, contents, early, life, career, references, notesearly, life, edithe, born, 1774, dublin, descended, ancient, catholic, family, from, westmeath,. Francis Magan 24 May 1774 1843 was a barrister and the informer who procured the death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald through felon setting Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 References 4 NotesEarly life EditHe was born 24 May 1774 in Dublin descended of an ancient Catholic family from Co Westmeath the Magans of Umma more Emoe His grandfather James Magan established a medical practice in Dublin where he was succeeded by his eldest son Richard Thomas Magan James s second son became a woollen draper establishing himself at 49 High Street Dublin Active politically Thomas represented Dundalk at the Catholic Convention of 1792 He was named wool draper and mercer to King George III in 1794 an honorary title he probably owed to his friend Francis Higgins a notorious scoundrel known as the Sham Squire owner of a well known government print newspaper The Freeman s Journal 1 Magan was admitted to Trinity College Dublin in 1788 although he did not attend before 1791 He joined the College Historical Society but was never active In May 1794 he signed the oath of loyalty to the British monarch required of any Catholic barrister and went to London to study at Lincoln s Inn Career EditReturning to Dublin in 1796 he was admitted to the Irish Bar the King s Inns in Michelmas term The published records of the King s Inns state that he had been employed in the Irish revenue service Magan s historical notoriety originates from a single act During April May 1798 he informed the British government several times of the whereabouts of Lord Edward Fitzgerald on Thomas Street just as the latter prepared to take the field at the head of thousands of Croppies during the 1798 Rising Lord Edward s arrest on 19 May deprived the United Irishmen of their most charismatic leader on whose head the British had put a price of 1 000 equivalent to 1 5m in 2015 Magan passed this to the Castle without being discovered or even suspected during his lifetime probably because of his otherwise unremarkable life He had found out Lord Edward s whereabouts through his involvement with the United Irishmen being a member of to its committee responsible for Dublin He hosted a meeting of this committee on the night of 17 May 1798 Lord Edward attended and may have passed the night in Magan s house Magan sold this information on to Dublin Castle the next day provoking Major Sirr with a body of soldiers to apprehend Lord Edward as he departed from the rear of 20 Usher s Island at dusk Given further information by Magan Sirr found Lord Edward suffering from fever in 153 Thomas Street and shot him during a struggle and he died in Newgate Prison Dublin some days later It was only with the publication of W J Fitzpatrick s Secret Service Under Pitt a century later in 1892 that Magan was unveiled as the traitor Francis Higgins was paid the 1 000 for betraying Lord Edward and Magan got 300 a year 2 A fortune bequeathed by one Francis Magan led to the foundation of St Vincent s Hospital Fairview Dublin in 1857 References Edit Magan Francis Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Notes Edit Dictionary of Irish Biography Cambridge University Press 2009 ISBN 978 0 521 63331 4 De Burca Seamus 1988 The Man Who Betrayed Lord Edward Fitzgerald Dublin Historical Record 41 4 152 156 JSTOR 30100877 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Magan amp oldid 1070255137, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
