Portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee
Painting
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look at this portrait. Can you find two inscriptions in it? Find out more about these inscriptions by reading this blog.
THINK
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, Thomas D’Arcy McGee — a former Irish nationalist and proponent of armed revolution — came to appreciate British-style parliamentary government and he condemned revolutionaries like the Fenians. Take the historical perspective of Irish nationalists. How might they have felt about McGee changing his views? Use examples from this package to explain your answer.
DO
McGee was an excellent public speaker: his speeches in favour of Confederation solidified his reputation as one of the greatest orators of his day. Draft a speech on an issue that is important to you and then deliver it to your class.
Details
Date 1868
Materials - Oil Paint
Transcript
Presented to the Honble Thos D’arcy McGee M.P. by friends in Montreal and Ottawa on his 43rd birthday April 13th 1868.
Unhappily frustrated in the fulfillment of this intention by his Cruel Assassination at Ottawa on the 7th of April 1868. His friends now present it with their deepest sympathy to his bereaved Widow and Children.
Historical Context
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- This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee was painted by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith.
- Although in his youth he was an Irish nationalist and advocate of armed force to free Ireland from British rule, McGee developed an appreciation for British-style government after immigrating to the United Province of Canada. As a result, he became a passionate and eloquent advocate of Confederation.
- McGee’s condemnation of the Fenians gave them a motive to assassinate him.
This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee was commissioned by his friends in honour of his 43rd birthday. Sadly, McGee did not live to see it.
McGee was an unlikely Father of Confederation. During his youth in Ireland, McGee supported efforts — even advocating armed revolution — to free his native country from British rule.
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, McGee developed a deep respect for British-style parliamentary government. He became famous for his impassioned writings and speeches in favour of Confederation, and even promoted it as a model for government reform in Ireland.
This put him at odds with some Irish nationalists like the Fenians, whom he openly denounced, giving them a motive to assassinate him.
Over 80,000 people turned out for McGee’s funeral procession.
This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith, was commissioned by McGee’s friends in honour of his 43rd birthday. Sadly, McGee did not live to see it: he was assassinated on April 7, 1868, just six days before his birthday.
McGee was an unlikely Father of Confederation. During his youth in Ireland, he supported efforts — even advocating armed revolution — to free his native country from British rule.
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, McGee developed a deep respect for British-style parliamentary government, believing that it could sustain “a great new Northern nation,” in which minorities would enjoy liberty and tolerance. Elected to the assembly in 1857, McGee became famous for his impassioned writings and speeches in favour of Confederation, and even promoted it as a model for government reform in Ireland.
McGee’s support for a British institution put him at odds with some Irish nationalists like the Fenians, whom he openly denounced. This made him, in their eyes, a traitor and it gave the Fenians a motive to assassinate him.
Although McGee’s popularity decreased among Irish immigrants after he denounced the Fenians, over 80,000 people crowded the streets of Montréal for his funeral procession, making it the largest ever seen in British North America.
- This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee was painted by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith.
- Although in his youth he was an Irish nationalist and advocate of armed force to free Ireland from British rule, McGee developed an appreciation for British-style government after immigrating to the United Province of Canada. As a result, he became a passionate and eloquent advocate of Confederation.
- McGee’s condemnation of the Fenians gave them a motive to assassinate him.
This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee was commissioned by his friends in honour of his 43rd birthday. Sadly, McGee did not live to see it.
McGee was an unlikely Father of Confederation. During his youth in Ireland, McGee supported efforts — even advocating armed revolution — to free his native country from British rule.
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, McGee developed a deep respect for British-style parliamentary government. He became famous for his impassioned writings and speeches in favour of Confederation, and even promoted it as a model for government reform in Ireland.
This put him at odds with some Irish nationalists like the Fenians, whom he openly denounced, giving them a motive to assassinate him.
Over 80,000 people turned out for McGee’s funeral procession.
This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith, was commissioned by McGee’s friends in honour of his 43rd birthday. Sadly, McGee did not live to see it: he was assassinated on April 7, 1868, just six days before his birthday.
McGee was an unlikely Father of Confederation. During his youth in Ireland, he supported efforts — even advocating armed revolution — to free his native country from British rule.
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, McGee developed a deep respect for British-style parliamentary government, believing that it could sustain “a great new Northern nation,” in which minorities would enjoy liberty and tolerance. Elected to the assembly in 1857, McGee became famous for his impassioned writings and speeches in favour of Confederation, and even promoted it as a model for government reform in Ireland.
McGee’s support for a British institution put him at odds with some Irish nationalists like the Fenians, whom he openly denounced. This made him, in their eyes, a traitor and it gave the Fenians a motive to assassinate him.
Although McGee’s popularity decreased among Irish immigrants after he denounced the Fenians, over 80,000 people crowded the streets of Montréal for his funeral procession, making it the largest ever seen in British North America.
Summary
- This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee was painted by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith.
- Although in his youth he was an Irish nationalist and advocate of armed force to free Ireland from British rule, McGee developed an appreciation for British-style government after immigrating to the United Province of Canada. As a result, he became a passionate and eloquent advocate of Confederation.
- McGee’s condemnation of the Fenians gave them a motive to assassinate him.
Essential
This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee was commissioned by his friends in honour of his 43rd birthday. Sadly, McGee did not live to see it.
McGee was an unlikely Father of Confederation. During his youth in Ireland, McGee supported efforts — even advocating armed revolution — to free his native country from British rule.
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, McGee developed a deep respect for British-style parliamentary government. He became famous for his impassioned writings and speeches in favour of Confederation, and even promoted it as a model for government reform in Ireland.
This put him at odds with some Irish nationalists like the Fenians, whom he openly denounced, giving them a motive to assassinate him.
Over 80,000 people turned out for McGee’s funeral procession.
In-Depth
This portrait of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith, was commissioned by McGee’s friends in honour of his 43rd birthday. Sadly, McGee did not live to see it: he was assassinated on April 7, 1868, just six days before his birthday.
McGee was an unlikely Father of Confederation. During his youth in Ireland, he supported efforts — even advocating armed revolution — to free his native country from British rule.
After immigrating to the United Province of Canada, McGee developed a deep respect for British-style parliamentary government, believing that it could sustain “a great new Northern nation,” in which minorities would enjoy liberty and tolerance. Elected to the assembly in 1857, McGee became famous for his impassioned writings and speeches in favour of Confederation, and even promoted it as a model for government reform in Ireland.
McGee’s support for a British institution put him at odds with some Irish nationalists like the Fenians, whom he openly denounced. This made him, in their eyes, a traitor and it gave the Fenians a motive to assassinate him.
Although McGee’s popularity decreased among Irish immigrants after he denounced the Fenians, over 80,000 people crowded the streets of Montréal for his funeral procession, making it the largest ever seen in British North America.