This month (April) marks the 185th anniversary of the birth of Thomas D’Arcy McGee – writer, journalist, politician and the man who founded
A father of Canadian national identity
Canadian identity.
He was born in Carlingford, Co. Louth on April 13th 1825, where his father worked for the Irish coastguard, although his parents moved when Thomas was seven to Wexford. He was deeply influenced by the heroic nationalism, tinged with still fresh memories of the events of 1798. Ireland’[s struggle with England was age old, but her cause was just. It is interesting that in later life his anti-English sentiments never translated into anti-British feeling. He saw the British Empire, headed by the British Crown, as a desirable system capable of protecting the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs.
His education in Ireland was, in modern terms, rudimentary, but the fact he went on to edit many newspapers and was noted for his oratory is a testament to the high standards of literacy that could be imparted from teachers from the “hedge schools”.
In 1842 he left Wexford, first for Quebec and then for Boston, where his literary skills were recognised by Cavan man Patrick Donahoe, the editor of the Boston Pilot. After serving as editor for a year he returned to Ireland, first to work for the Freeman’s Journal, and then The Nation. He became ever more involved in the Young Ireland agitation of 1848, eventually fleeing Ireland for America. However, he found Canada a far more attractive destination, in spite of the power of anti-Catholic groups like the Orange Order in many areas of life. In 1857 he moved to Canada permanently, soon after being elected a member of the Provincial Legislature. More significantly, he was soon appointed to the post of Minister for Agriculture, a considerable achievement for a newly-arrived immigrant still in his early thirties. He was in favour of the development of Canadian agriculture and industry behind high tariff walls, as well as the promotion of immigration. Throughout he maintained a sometimes bitter anti-American stance, viewing Canada’s southern neighbour as an unfriendly predator. He believed strongly in the need for Canada and Canadians to build a strong and robust Canadian identity, separate from that of America, This would be attached to an independent Canada that would nevertheless retain strong ties with the British crown. This was achieved, with D’Arcy McGee’s help, with the grant of Dominion Status to Canada in 1867.
Although a strong believer in Irish nationalist aims, he was opposed to the Fenians, especially their attempts to invade Canada from America. A week before his forty-second birthday D’Arcy McGee was shot dead near the parliament building in Ottawa, a very rare example of assassination in Canada. His assailant, Dublin-born tailor Patrick Whelan, was a Fenian. He was eventually executed. While D’Arcy McGee’s death bore all the hallmarks of Fenian-inspired revenge, there were many, both in Canada and the United States, who believed that Whelan was only a stool pigeon of a faction of Canadian Orangeism, outraged by D’Arcy McGee’s advocacy of Catholic rights.
His skills as a poet should not be overlooked. He is still remembered as the author of the poem “The Celts”.
Long, long ago, beyond the misty space
Of twice a thousand years
In Erin old there dwelt a mighty race
Taller than Roman spears …
