United Irish Uprising in Newfoundland

The United Irish Uprising in Newfoundland began with rumours in April 1800 at St. John's, Newfoundland Colony that as many as 400 men took a secret oath of the Society of United Irishmen.[1][2] The recent Irish Rebellion of 1798 had inspired some of the Irish people in the Newfoundland Colony to plan and organize a rebellion.[1][2] This included soldiers located at Signal Hill, Fort William, and Fort Townshend.[1][2] It was suspected that as many as eighty soldiers planned to meet and mutiny against the British Army.[1][2]

Reenactors: Royal Newfoundland Regiment c.1800 at Signal Hill Tattoo

Outcome

The British Army captured all of the members of the uprising except the two ring leaders leading to capital punishment for some of them.[1][2]

Aftermath

The uprising left several implications for the Irish and for British governance of Newfoundland.[1][2] It was the first time such an uprising had occurred in Newfoundland and the British feared it would not be the last occurrence.[1][2] The British officials in the Colonial Office considered Newfoundland to have a reputation as a "Transatlantic Tipperary", a distant but semi-Irish colony with the potential for political turbulence.[1][2]

See also

• List of conflicts in Canada
• List of Irish uprisings

References

1. The United Irish Uprising in Newfoundland, 1800
2. United Irish Rising in Newfoundland