Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland

Irish History, Culture, Heritage, Language, Mythology

#OTD in 1798 – Theobald Wolfe Tone dies from a stab wound to his neck which he inflicted upon himself on 12 November; his attempted suicide is the result of being refused a soldier’s execution by firing squad and being sentenced to death by hanging.

Stair na hÉireannIrish History1798 United Irishmen Rebellion, Court-martialled, Dublin, Hume Street, Provost’s Prison, Society of United Irishmen, St Stephen’s Green, suicide, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Wolfe Tone Statue

‘Never to desist in our efforts until we subvert the authority of England over our country and asserted our independence’. –Wolfe Tone

After Wolfe Tone’s capture, he was taken to Dublin and court-martialled. He requested that he be afforded the death of a soldier, to be shot, rather than hanged. His request denied he died in Provost’s Prison in Dublin of a neck wound at the age of 35 years. History records his death as being a suicide but there remains some doubt.

Featured photo: ‘The Death of Wolfe Tone’, Irish Weekly Independent, by Walter C. Mills

Photo: Wolfe Tone statue at the corner of St. Stephen’s Green and Hume Street, Dublin