Series 3 - Thomas D'Arcy McGee letters

14pp

The Public Archives of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada) provided Kerby A. Miller with copies of the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Letters per their letter of 22 August 1973. These copies were created from manuscripts then held in the John O'Donohoe Papers and now listed as the D'Arcy McGee series in the Charles Murphy fonds, Library and Archives Canada [reference number MG27-IIIB8]. Kerby A. Miller also created a transcript of one letter in this series from the original held in the William Smith O'Brien Papers, National Library of Ireland [call number MS 446, item 3124].

Typed transcripts of eight letters written by Thomas D'Arcy McGee primarily from Montreal, Canada in the 1850s, including: five letters from McGee in Montreal to Alderman John O'Donohue in Toronto, Canada in 1859-1860; one from McGee in London to O'Donohue in Toronto [n.d.]; one from McGee to William Smith O'Brien in 1859; and one from McGee in Woodstock addressed to the Editor of The Globe in 1861. Also included are a photocopy of an original letter from 1859 and a letter to Kerby A. Miller from the Public Archives of Canada.
Thomas D'Arcy McGee (1825–1868) was an Irish nationalist, journalist, poet, and politician who became one of the most influential Fathers of Canadian Confederation. Born in Carlingford, County Louth, McGee became involved in the Young Ireland movement. After participating in nationalist activities and facing political difficulties, he emigrated to the United States in 1848.
While in America, McGee worked as a journalist and initially supported Irish republican causes. However, he later became disillusioned with revolutionary politics, becoming intensely monarchistic in his political beliefs and in his religious support for the embattled Pope Pius IX. Moving to Canada in 1857, he entered public life and was elected to the legislature of the Province of Canada.
McGee became a strong advocate for the union of the British North American colonies. He believed that Confederation would create a stable and prosperous nation while protecting cultural and religious diversity. As a gifted speaker and writer, he played a key role in promoting the idea that eventually led to the creation of Canada in 1867.
He also encouraged Irish immigrants to contribute to Canadian society and opposed political violence. This stance made him unpopular with some Irish nationalist groups. On 7 April 1868, shortly after addressing Parliament in Ottawa, McGee was assassinated by Patrick J. Whelan, who was accused of having Fenian sympathies.