Portal:Ireland/Selected biography archive/28





Patrick Henry Pearse (also known as Pádraig Pearse; Pádraig Anraí Mac Piarais; An Piarsach; 10 November 1879 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916.

In 1896, at the age of only sixteen, he joined the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge), and in 1903 at the age of 23, he became editor of its newspaper An Claidheamh Soluis ("The Sword of Light"). In 1900 he was awarded a BA in Modern Languages by the Royal University of Ireland, and in 1900 he was awarded the degree of Barrister-at-Law from the King's Inns. In December 1913, Bulmer Hobson swore Pearse into the secret Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). On 1 August 1915, Pearse gave a now-famous graveside oration at the funeral of the Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa.

When the Easter Rising erupted on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, it was Pearse who proclaimed a Republic from the steps of the General Post Office. After six days fighting, Pearse issued the order to surrender along with the remaining leaders. He was declared "President of the Provisional Government" of the Irish Republic in one of the bulletins issued by the Rising's leaders, a status that was however disputed by others associated with the rebellion both then and subsequently. Following the collapse of the Rising and the execution of Pearse, along with his brother (Willie Pearse) and fourteen other leaders, Pearse came to be seen by many as the embodiment of the rebellion. Read more...