Patrick James Smyth

Patrick James Smyth (c. 1823–1885) "Nicaragua Smyth" was an Irish politician and journalist.[1]

He was educated at Clongowes Wood College where he became friends with Thomas Francis Meagher, with whom he joined the Repeal Association in 1844. Following his involvement in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, Smyth fled to America where he worked as a journalist.[1].

In 1853 Smyth, code named Nicaragua, planned and carried out the escape of John Mitchel from Van Diemen's Land.[1]

Smyth was elected a Home Rule Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Westmeath at a by-election on 17 June 1871,[2] and was reelected in 1874.[3] At the 1880 general election, he did not seek re-election in Westmeath, but stood instead in Tipperary, where he was elected unopposed.[4] He left the House of Commons at the end of 1884, when he was appointed as Secretary to the Irish Loan Fund Board.[5]

In 1871 he was made chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.[1]

Contents

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d D. J. O'Donoghue, ‘Smyth, Patrick James (c.1823–1885)’, rev. Brigitte Anton, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 11 April 2008
  2. ^ Brian M. Walker, ed (1978). Parliamentary election results in Ireland 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. p. 114. ISBN 0 901714 12 7. 
  3. ^ Walker, op. cit., page 119
  4. ^ Walker, op. cit., page 126
  5. ^ Walker, op. cit., page 129

References

Books by Young Irelanders (Irish Confederation)

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Pollard-Urquhart
Algernon Greville		 Member of Parliament for Westmeath
1871 – 1880
With: Algernon Greville 1871–1874
Lord Robert Montagu 1874–1880		 Succeeded by
Timothy Daniel Sullivan
Henry Joseph Gill
Preceded by
Stephen Moore
Edmund Dwyer Gray		 Member of Parliament for Tipperary
1880 – January 1885
With: John Dillon to 1883
Thomas Mayne from 1883		 Succeeded by
John O'Connor
Thomas Mayne