Michael Davitt (1846-1906) was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and an Irish Land League activist. Born in County Mayo yet spent his early years in England, Davitt became involved in the IRB and was imprisoned for arms trafficking in 1870, serving seven and a half years in prison. He was released in 1877 and played a heavy role in fighting the Land War, which united both the constitutional and revolutionary arms of Irish nationalism in struggle for land reform. He also made frequent visits to America for fundraising and lectures and was also originally a strong ally of Charles Stewart Parnell, having co-founded the National Land League alongside him before later becoming one of Parnell’s most vociferious critics following the exposal of Parnell’s extramarital affair with Katherine O’Shea.
Writings
Ireland in Parliament From A Nationalist’s Point of View (1878)
Address delivered in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester (1882)
Address delivered in League Hall, St Anne Street, Liverpool (1882)
Letter To Michael Cusack, December 21st, 1884
On The Irish Land League (1889)