Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey (died 28 June 1798) was a barrister and a commander of the United Irishmen in the Battle of New Ross during the 1798 Rebellion.
A Protestant known for his liberal principles and a supporter of Catholic emancipation, from June 1792 Harvey was a member of the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, founded by James Napper Tandy and Archibald Hamilton Rowan.[1]
Just before the outbreak of the 1798 Rebellion Harvey was arrested at his home on 26 May 1798 at 11.00 p.m. A rebel colonel, Anthony Perry, divulged the information after giving in to torture by Crown forces. He was imprisoned at Wexford Gaol until its occupation by the rebels, and on his liberation he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the rebel forces, perhaps against his will.[2] His first plan was to advance westwards via New Ross into County Kilkenny in hope of finding new supporters for the rebellion.
Contents |
Harvey was in command at the Battle of New Ross on 5 June 1798, in which the rebels were defeated. The rebels outnumbered the British force and had a rebel emissary Matt Furlong deliver surrender terms. While bearing a flag of truce Furlong was shot, prompting 500 of the rebels under John Kelly of Killanne to charge. The attack had some initial success with two thirds of the town in possession of the United Irishmen. They quickly ran out of ammunition and were forced to rely on their pikes. With the arrival of British reinforcements the rebels were defeated.
On 7 June Harvey resigned at Sliabh Coillte, disgusted with his defeat and the ensuing Scullabogue Barn massacre. He was replaced as Commander-in-Chief by Philip Roche and returned to Wexford where he was appointed President of the town committee. Confident that a treaty would be negotiated by Lord Kingsborough, he retired to Bargy Castle. Shortly afterwards he and John Henry Colclough travelled to a cave on the Greater Saltee Island from whence they planned to escape to republican France. They were betrayed and arrested, brought to Wexford town and hanged on the bridge on 28 June 1798.
In his memoirs Jonah Barrington listed Harvey as a rebel supporter in April 1798, before the rebellion started.[3] Thomas Collins, the government spy in the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, had also informed Dublin Castle about his republican views as early as 1793.[4]
Bagenal Harvey was buried in Mayglass cemetery. The house he lived in before he died was called Mountpleasant House.
The Rev John Graham wrote in his diary, for June 16, 1798: "The Wexford Rebels have taken the command away from Bagenal Harvey and given it to one Clinch, a Popish Priest", so it may be that Harvey did not resign his commission.
Harvey was a cousin of the founder of Bagenalstown in County Carlow, and was an ancestor of General Beauchamp Doran.