Alexander Martin Sullivan (1830 - 17 October 1884) was an Irish politician, lawyer and journalist from Bantry, County Cork.
He was the son of Daniel and Ann Sullivan, and brother to Timothy Daniel Sullivan, who was Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1886 to 1888.
Entering into journalism in 1850, Sullivan became assistant-editor of the The Nation in 1855, and subsequently editor and proprietor. From 1861 to 1884, in conjunction with his elder brother, T. D. Sullivan, he made The Nation one of the most potent factors in the Irish Nationalist cause, and also issued the Weekly News and Zozimus. Called to the Irish bar in 1876, he was made Q.C. in 1881.
At the 1874 general election he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Louth,[1] but although he did not formally resign, he did not take his seat. At the general election in April 1880, Sullivan was again returned for Louth,[2] but this time formally resigned from the Commons on 18 May 1880, by accepting appointment as Steward of the Manor of Northstead.[3] However, Charles Stewart Parnell had been elected for both Cork City and for Meath, and chose to sit for Cork. At the resulting by-election on 20 May 1880, Sullivan was returned unopposed to fill the vacancy in Meath,[4] and held that seat until his resignation on 3 February 1882.[3]
As a member of the Dublin Corporation he secured a magnificent site for the Grattan Monument, towards which he donated £400, the amount of a subscription by his admirers while he was undergoing imprisonment for a political offence in 1868. This monument was formally unveiled in January 1876. Between the years 1878 and 1882 he was engaged in many notable trials. His last great case was on 30 November 1883 when he was colleague of Lord Russell in the defence of Patrick O'Donnell for the murder of James Carey, an informer. He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery. In addition to his labours Alexander Sullivan was a great temperance reformer. He also wrote two notable books, The Story of Ireland and New Ireland and contributed many sketches (including some verse) to Irish Penny Readings (1879–1885).
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Matthew O'Reilly Dease and Chichester Fortescue |
Member of Parliament for County Louth 1874–1880 With: Philip Callan to April 1874 George Kirk April 1874 – April 1880 Philip Callan from April 1880 |
Succeeded by Alan Henry Bellingham and Philip Callan |
| Preceded by Charles Stewart Parnell and Robert Henry Metge |
Member of Parliament for Meath 1880–1882 With: Robert Henry Metge |
Succeeded by Michael Davitt and Robert Henry Metge |
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.