John Devoy

3 Sep 1842: John Devoy was born in the townland of Kill, Co. Kildare but he would relocate to Dublin at an early age.

Devoy grew into staunch Fenian, convinced that armed rebellion was the only means of achieving freedom and sovereignty. In 1865 he was appointed "Chief Organiser" of The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) tasked with recruiting Irishmen from British Armed Forces.

He was in favour of an 1865 Fenian uprising within British military which failed to materialise. Due to his stature within the organisation and association with that plan, he was arrested and plead guilty in 1866.

Sentenced to 15 years penal servitude, Devoy was released and effectively exiled after 5 years as part of a general amnesty. He arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Cuba in January 1871 with the remainder of "The Cuba Five" and would live the remainder of his days in the United States.

From afar Devoy remained closely intertwined with Irish affairs, financially, politically and logistically. A leading member of Clan na Gael (successor to the Fenian Brotherhood) before they parted ways and then outspoken editor and owner of "The Gaelic American" newspaper. He played an important role in 1916 rising and War of Independence - his allegiance shifting toward Collins & Griffith over deValera. Devoy was often critical of deValera and his anti-treaty position, pointing to his February 1920 "Cuba statement" as evidence of Dev waffling on the issue.

Devoy himself, whom Patrick Pearse had once called "the greatest Fenian of them all" would lend his integral support to the Free State from the very beginning.

***Pictured here is Devoy's 1866 "mugshot", his fiery demeanour shining through..