author
Thomas D'Arcy McGee
1825–1868
An Irish-born revolutionary turned journalist, poet, and statesman, he became one of the most powerful voices behind Canadian Confederation. His life ended suddenly in 1868 in a shocking political assassination that made him a lasting figure in Canadian history.
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About the author
Born in Carlingford, County Louth, in 1825, Thomas D'Arcy McGee grew up in Ireland and left for North America while still young. He worked as a journalist and writer in the United States, and in his early years he was deeply involved in Irish nationalist politics before his views changed over time.
After settling in Canada, he became a prominent public speaker, newspaper editor, and politician. He is remembered as one of the Fathers of Confederation, admired for his eloquence and for arguing that Canada should grow into a distinct country rather than be pulled into American expansion.
McGee also wrote poetry and essays, bringing a literary voice to public life as well as a political one. In 1868, he was assassinated in Ottawa, only months after Confederation, and his death left a deep mark on the young country he had helped to shape.