Robert Emmet
This is a drawing of Robert Emmet at his trial in 1803.
© South Dublin Libraries.Robert Emmet
© South Dublin Libraries.
© South Dublin Libraries.
Robert Emmet
This is a drawing of Robert Emmet at his trial in 1803.
© South Dublin Libraries.Robert Emmet (1778 - 1803) was an Irish nationalist and revolutionary. He joined the Society of United Irishmen while attending Trinity College, Dublin and helped with the organisation of the insurrection of 1798.
In April of 1798, Emmet was expelled from Trinity College for his radical political involvements. In August of 1800, he travelled to France.
While in France, Emmet discussed Irish independence with Napoleon and Talleyrand. However, he returned to Ireland in 1802 without a clear plan to put his republican ideas into action. On his return, Emmet rented Butterfield House in Rathfarnham and became secretly engaged to Sarah Curran. She was the daughter of John Philpot Curran, a renowned barrister, wit and moderate nationalist, who lived nearby at a house called the Priory.
Gallery
Crest of the United Irishmen
The United Irishmen (1791-1798) designed a crest incorporating the harp to represent Ireland. The motto, 'Equality: it is new strung and shall be heard', gave a clear warning to the authorities. The red cap of liberty, once presented to freed Roman slaves, is included as a symbol.
Courtesy of Merlin/Wolfhound Press.Crest of the United Irishmen - Courtesy of Merlin/Wolfhound Press.
Butterfield House
This is a photograph of Butterfield House, Rathfarnham, which Robert Emmet rented before the 1803 rebellion. In order to avoid being arrested before the rebellion took place, Emmet rented the house in April 1803 under the name of Robert Ellis and lived there with William Dowdall and others.
© South Dublin Libraries.Butterfield House - © South Dublin Libraries.
John Philpot Curran
Portrait of John Philpot Curran.
Image courtesy of South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection.John Philpot Curran - Image courtesy of South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection.
Sarah Curran
A portrait of Sarah Curran, fiancée of Robert Emmet. Sarah Curran was the youngest daughter of the lawyer and nationalist, John Philpot Curran. She was secretly engaged to Robert Emmet. However, when her father discovered this in 1803, she was obliged to leave the family home, the Priory in Rathfarnham. She then found refuge with friends in Cork. Here she met and married a Captain Sturgeon in 1805. She died in England in 1808.
© South Dublin Libraries.Sarah Curran - © South Dublin Libraries.