Tom Clarke (Irish republican)

Thomas James Clarke (Irish Tomás Séamus Ó Cléirigh, * March 11, 1857 Isle of Wight; † May 3, 1916 in Dublin) was an Irish revolutionary and one of the main organizers of the Easter Rising of 1916.

Irish Republican Brotherhood

Clarke was born in 1857 on the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. His family moved shortly after his birth Dungannon, County Tyrone. At 18, he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood ( IRB). In 1883 he was sent together with other members of the IRB to London to blow up the London Bridge. Clarke but was arrested and spent the next 15 years in Pentonville prison. After his release in 1901 he married 21 years younger Kathleen Daly, whose uncle John he had met in prison. Together with his wife he emigrated to America, where he worked for the organization of Clan na Gael, led by John Devoy. In 1907 he returned to Ireland and opened a tobacco shop in Dublin. There he became involved again in the IRB, which had just renewed under the leadership of young members, as Bulmer Hobson and Denis McCullough. Hobson became his biggest supporter along with Sean MacDermott. Clarke himself but rather remained active in the background.

The Irish Volunteers

The establishment of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 aroused great interest in Clarke, but he was not active at first worked for the volunteers because he feared that he might bring as a known Irish nationalist organization into disrepute. But since people like MacDermott, Hobson, Éamonn Ceannt and other IRB members played an important role in the volunteers, it was clear that the IRB would take over control of the organization. When John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, equal control of the volunteers called for his party, this was rejected by the majority of hardliners. Finally Redmond's claim was accepted but not least thanks to the intercession of Hobson. Clarke considered this behavior as treason and this has never forgiven him.

The planning of the uprising

After the rift between Clarke and Hobson MacDermott and Clarke were almost inseparable. The two were as a secretary and treasurer de facto leaders of the IRB, although nominally James Deakin and later McCullough presided over the organization. In 1915 Clarke and MacDermott established the Military Committee of the IRB to plan the later Easter Rising. Other members were Patrick Pearse, Joseph Plunkett and Ceannt. After the conclusion of an agreement with James Connolly and his Irish Citizen Army in January 1916 this was included in the committee. In April 1916, shortly before the uprising, was also Thomas MacDonagh member. These were also the seven men who signed the Easter Proclamation. Clarke wrote first. Actually Clarke should also be appointed as president and commander in chief. But since he refused these honors, Pearse took over this role. He was known as Clarke and was respected throughout the country.

The Easter Rising

The week of the Easter Rising, Clarke spent at the headquarters of the rebels in the General Post Office. After the surrender on April 29, 1916 Clarke was brought to Kilmainham jail. He was executed on May 3 at the age of 59 years.