author
Sir Charles Gavan Duffy
1816–1903
A leading voice of Irish nationalism, he helped found The Nation before remaking himself as a reform politician in colonial Australia. His life crossed journalism, poetry, and public office, ending with a reputation that stretched across two hemispheres.
1 Audiobook
The Revival of Irish Literature Addresses by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, K.C.M.G, Dr. George Sigerson, and Dr. Douglas Hyde
by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Douglas Hyde, George Sigerson
About the author
Born in County Monaghan on April 12, 1816, Charles Gavan Duffy became one of the best-known figures in 19th-century Irish public life. While still young he worked in journalism and, with Thomas Davis and John Blake Dillon, founded The Nation in 1842, a paper that became central to the Young Ireland movement. He also wrote verse and political commentary, combining literary energy with a strong belief in Irish self-government.
After the failed rising of 1848 and years of political struggle, he remained active in Irish tenant-rights politics before emigrating to Australia in 1856. In Victoria he built a second major career, entering parliament and arguing for land reform. He eventually served as Premier of Victoria from 1871 to 1872, an unusual second act for someone already famous in another country.
Later in life he wrote memoirs, including My Life in Two Hemispheres, a title that neatly sums up his career. He died in Nice, France, on February 9, 1903. Today he is remembered as a rare figure who left a mark on both Irish nationalist history and Australian political life.