Ireland: Important People

Front 1

Herbert Henry Asquith

Back 1

Liberal PM of Britain from 1908-16. Asquith's efforts over Irish Home Rule nearly provoked a civil war in Ireland over Ulster, only averted by the outbreak of a European war.

Front 2

William Gladstone

Back 2

Important in the lead up to this period (1902-1918). Served as PM in the lead up to this period 1892–1894. Was a strong supporter of Home Rule, and tried twice to pass a Home Rule Bill - first in 1886, and in 1893

Front 3

Edward Carson

Back 3

Celebrated barrister who led the Ulster Unionists in their resistance to Home Rule. A Westminster MP, he was key in the link between conservatives in britain and unionists in northern ireland. An important ally of Bonar Law.

Front 4

Andrew Bonar Law

Back 4

British Conservative Party statesman and Prime Minister. Ally of Edward Carson, opposed Home Rule and helped Carson and the Unionists. His strong campaigning against the issue turned Liberal attempts to pass the Third Home Rule Bill into a three year struggle.

Front 5

Henry Campbell Bannerman

Back 5

Chief secretary for Ireland (1881-5), in this post he faced the full fury of the Irish Nationalist MPs. 1889 elected as leader of Liberal party, and in his two years as Lib PM (1906-1908) he was constrained by the H.O.L who he knew would reject a Home RUle Bill.

Front 6

Charles Parnell

Back 6

nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Very influential in the story of Irish Home Rule.

Front 7

John Redmond

Back 7

A moderate Irish nationalist who first entered the British Parliament as an MP in 1881. Opposed to violence, staunch constitutionalist. Good organiser, united the INP in time for the 1900 general election. Wanted self government but accepted a continued link with Britain.

Front 8

James Connolly

Back 8

Irish socialist leader. Founded the Irish Citizen Army. IRB and the ICA agreed to act together at Easter 1916. Executed by a British firing squad because of his leadership role in the Easter Rising of 1916.

Front 9

Patrick Pearse

Back 9

an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916. Strong believer in the preservation of irish culture and its presentation. Supported Redmond until he joined the IRB. Was not averse to the use of violence in the cause. Wanted complete independence from Britain, disliked how British culture was cemented in Irish society.

Front 10

Arthur Griffith

Back 10

the founder and third leader of Sinn Féin. He outlined the SF policy for the first time at the annual Convention of the National Council. Wanted not just Home Rule, but complete independence from Britain. In 1914 'Fenians' including Griffith joined the anti-Redmond Irish Volunteers. Didn't take part in the Easter Rising, but many 'Fenians', also members of both the Volunteers & Irish Republican Brotherhood, did take part.

Front 11

Lord Salisbury

Back 11

British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister - he was the first British Prime Minister of the 20th century and the last Prime Minister to head his full administration from the House of Lords. When Gladstone came out in favour of Home Rule for Ireland, Salisbury opposed him and formed an alliance with the breakaway Liberal Unionists and then won the subsequent general election. Remained Prime Minister until Gladstone's Liberals formed a government with the support of the Irish Nationalist Party. Liberals lost the 1895 general election and Salisbury once again became Prime Minister, leading the Unionists to war against the Boers and another electoral victory in 1900 before relinquishing the premiership to his nephew Arthur Balfour. He sought to "fight Home Rule with kindness" by launching a land reform programme which helped hundreds of thousands of Irish peasants gain land ownership.

Front 12

Arthur Balfour

Back 12

British Conservative politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from July 1902 to December 1905. Served as Foreign Secretary in David Lloyd George's coalition government 1916-1919. During his time in this post, he authored the Perpetual Crimes Act (1887) (or Coercion Act) aimed at the prevention of boycotting, intimidation and unlawful assembly in Ireland during the Irish Land War. In Parliament he resisted any overtures to the Irish Parliamentary Party on Home Rule, and, allied with Joseph Chamberlain's Liberal Unionists, strongly encouraged Unionist activism in Ireland.

Front 13

David Lloyd George

Back 13

British Liberal politician and statesman. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the head of a wartime coalition government between the years 1916–22. as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he was a key figure in the introduction of many reforms which laid the foundations of the modern welfare state. His People's Budget, 1909 was rejected by the H.O.L which caused the Constitutional Crisis. Subsequently, the Parliament Bill for social reform and Irish Home Rule, which Lloyd George strongly supported, was passed and the veto power of the House of Lords was greatly curtailed. Very important in early 20th century British politics, and Irish Home Rule.