James Carey (1845–1883) was a Fenian, most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park Murders. He has been called "the most militant-minded republican you could possibly meet" by historian Dr Shane Kenna.[1]
Carey was the son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer, who came from Celbridge to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. James also became a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in the employment of Michael Meade, builder, of Dublin; he then started business on his own account as a builder in that city, at Denzille Street. In that venture, he was successful; he became the leading spokesman of his trade, and obtained several large building contracts.
During all this period Carey was engaged in an Irish nationalist conspiracy, but to outward appearance, he was one of the rising men of Dublin. He was involved in religious and other societies and at one time was spoken of as a possible lord mayor. In 1882 he was elected a town councillor.
In about 1861 he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), and soon afterwards became its treasurer. He broke with the IRB in 1881, forming a new group which assumed the title of the Invincibles, and established their headquarters in Dublin. Carey took an oath as one of the leaders. The object of the Invincibles was to remove all "tyrants" from the country, and several attempts, but without success, were made to assassinate Earl Cowper and W. E. Forster.
Phoenix Park Murders and aftermath
No. 1, the secret head of the association, then gave orders to kill Thomas Henry Burke, the under-secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant. On 6 May 1882, nine of the conspirators proceeded to the Phoenix Park, where Carey, while sitting on a jaunting-car, pointed out Burke to the others, who at once attacked and killed him with knives, and at the same time also killed Lord Frederick Cavendish, the newly appointed Chief Secretary, who was not a target but happened to be walking with Burke.[citation needed]
For eight months no clue could be found to the perpetrators of the act; but on 13 January 1883, Carey was arrested and, with 16 other people, charged with a conspiracy to murder public officials. When arrested, he was erecting a mortuary chapel in the South Dublin Union, and the work was then carried on by his brother Peter Carey. On 13 February, Carey turned queen's evidence and betrayed the complete details of the Invincibles and of the killers in the Phoenix Park. His evidence – together with that of another informer, the getaway driver Michael Kavanagh[2] – resulted in the execution by hanging of five of his former associates.[citation needed]
With his life in great danger, he was secretly, with his wife and family, put on board the Kinfauns Castle, bound for the Cape, and sailed on 6 July under the name of Power. On board the same ship was Patrick O'Donnell, a bricklayer. He became friendly with Carey, without knowing who he was. After stopping off in Cape Town, he was informed by chance of the real identity of Carey.[3] He continued with Carey on board the Melrose for the voyage from Cape Town to Natal, and when the vessel was 12 miles off Cape Vaccas, on 29 July 1883, using a pistol he had in his luggage, shot Carey dead.[4]
O'Donnell was brought to England and tried for murder, was found guilty and hanged at Newgate Prison on 17 December 1883.[5]
Personal life
He married Margaret (Maggie) McKenny by whom he had several children.[1]
james, carey, fenian, other, people, named, james, carey, james, carey, disambiguation, james, carey, 1845, 1883, fenian, most, notable, involvement, phoenix, park, murders, been, called, most, militant, minded, republican, could, possibly, meet, historian, sh. For other people named James Carey see James Carey disambiguation James Carey 1845 1883 was a Fenian most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park Murders He has been called the most militant minded republican you could possibly meet by historian Dr Shane Kenna 1 James Carey by unknown engraver published 1883 Contents 1 Early life and nationalism 2 Phoenix Park Murders and aftermath 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life and nationalism EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources James Carey Fenian news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Carey was the son of Francis Carey a bricklayer who came from Celbridge to Dublin where his son was born in James Street in 1845 James also became a bricklayer and for 18 years continued in the employment of Michael Meade builder of Dublin he then started business on his own account as a builder in that city at Denzille Street In that venture he was successful he became the leading spokesman of his trade and obtained several large building contracts During all this period Carey was engaged in an Irish nationalist conspiracy but to outward appearance he was one of the rising men of Dublin He was involved in religious and other societies and at one time was spoken of as a possible lord mayor In 1882 he was elected a town councillor In about 1861 he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood IRB and soon afterwards became its treasurer He broke with the IRB in 1881 forming a new group which assumed the title of the Invincibles and established their headquarters in Dublin Carey took an oath as one of the leaders The object of the Invincibles was to remove all tyrants from the country and several attempts but without success were made to assassinate Earl Cowper and W E Forster Phoenix Park Murders and aftermath EditNo 1 the secret head of the association then gave orders to kill Thomas Henry Burke the under secretary to the Lord Lieutenant On 6 May 1882 nine of the conspirators proceeded to the Phoenix Park where Carey while sitting on a jaunting car pointed out Burke to the others who at once attacked and killed him with knives and at the same time also killed Lord Frederick Cavendish the newly appointed Chief Secretary who was not a target but happened to be walking with Burke citation needed For eight months no clue could be found to the perpetrators of the act but on 13 January 1883 Carey was arrested and with 16 other people charged with a conspiracy to murder public officials When arrested he was erecting a mortuary chapel in the South Dublin Union and the work was then carried on by his brother Peter Carey On 13 February Carey turned queen s evidence and betrayed the complete details of the Invincibles and of the killers in the Phoenix Park His evidence together with that of another informer the getaway driver Michael Kavanagh 2 resulted in the execution by hanging of five of his former associates citation needed With his life in great danger he was secretly with his wife and family put on board the Kinfauns Castle bound for the Cape and sailed on 6 July under the name of Power On board the same ship was Patrick O Donnell a bricklayer He became friendly with Carey without knowing who he was After stopping off in Cape Town he was informed by chance of the real identity of Carey 3 He continued with Carey on board the Melrose for the voyage from Cape Town to Natal and when the vessel was 12 miles off Cape Vaccas on 29 July 1883 using a pistol he had in his luggage shot Carey dead 4 O Donnell was brought to England and tried for murder was found guilty and hanged at Newgate Prison on 17 December 1883 5 Personal life EditHe married Margaret Maggie McKenny by whom he had several children 1 References Edit a b The History Show Episode 16 The Argus Melbourne 13 March 1883 p 5 THE PHOENIX PARK MURDER CONFESSION OF THE CAR DRIVER Moloney Senan 2006 The Phoenix Murders Conspiracy Betrayal and Retribution Dublin Mercier Press pp 250 et passim ISBN 1 85635 511 X McCracken J L 2001 The Fate of an Infamous Informer Dublin History Ireland Moloney Senan 2006 The Phoenix Murders Conspiracy Betrayal and Retribution Dublin Mercier Press pp 258 et passim ISBN 1 85635 511 X This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Carey James Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Carey Fenian amp oldid 1127006469, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
