A Dictionary of British and Irish History

O

O'BRIEN, WILLIAM

(b. 2 Oct. 1852 at Mallow, Co. Cork, Ireland; d. 25 Feb. 1928 at London, England, aged 75). From 1881 O'Brien, a (Catholic) journalist, was an agitator for Irish land reform and HOME RULE, and supporter of C.S. PARNELL. He sat in the UK Parliament 1883–95, 1900–9, 1910–18.

In 1886, after the House of Commons rejected Home Rule, O’Brien developed the PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. When the IRISH PARLIAMENTARY PARTY (IPP) split in 1890 O'Brien joined the anti‐Parnellite side. His UNITED IRISH LEAGUE (founded 1898) helped to reunite the Party (1900). From c.1900 O’Brien sought a final transfer of landownership in Ireland to tenants. This provoked other parties to take action (see LAND CONFERENCE). In 1903 O’Brien broke with John REDMOND, leader of the IPP, because Redmond failed to restrain strongly nationalist MPs. He later founded the small, inclusive ‘All for Ireland League’ of MPs (1909). O’Brien strongly opposed partition of Ireland. He retired in 1918. See also LAND AGITATION AND REFORM, IRELAND.

O'BRIEN, WILLIAM SMITH

(b. 17 Oct. 1803 at Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare, Ireland; d. 18 June 1864 at Bangor, Caernarfonshire, Wales, aged 60). A (Protestant) Irish landowner, O'Brien sat in the UK Parliament from 1828. He initially opposed repeal of the UNION OF IRELAND AND GREAT BRITAIN. In 1843, disillusioned by anti‐reform attitudes in Parliament, he joined the REPEAL ASSOCIATION, but seceded with other members of the YOUNG IRELAND MOVEMENT in July 1846.

In July 1848, ...