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Irish Rebellion of 1798 led by the United Irishmen against British rule begins

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a popular insurrection against the British Crown in what was then the separate, but subordinate, Kingdom of Ireland.

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a popular insurrection against the British Crown in what was then the separate, but subordinate, Kingdom of Ireland. The main organising force was the Society of United Irishmen. First formed in Belfast by Presbyterians opposed to the landed Anglican establishment, the Society, despairing of reform, sought to secure a republic through a revolutionary union with the country's Catholic majority. The grievances of a rack-rented tenantry drove recruitment.

While assistance was being sought from the French Republic and from democratic militants in Britain, martial-law seizures and arrests forced the conspirators into the open.

Historical Significance

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a popular insurrection against the British Crown in what was then the separate, but subordinate, Kingdom of Ireland.

Events Before

  1. Albany replaces New York City as the capital of New York

    Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. It is also the county seat of, and the most populous city in, Albany County.

  2. Battle of Cape St. Vincent: British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeats larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don J

    Battle of Cape St. Vincent: British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeats larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. Captain Horatio Nelson distinguishes himself.

  3. The Last Invasion of Britain, launched by the French during the Revolutionary Wars, begins near Fishguard, Wales

    The French Revolutionary Wars (French: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802.

  4. Bank of England issues first £1 note

    The Bank of England, which is now the central bank of the United Kingdom, British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories, has issued banknotes since 1694.

  5. Writer Mary Wollstonecraft marries philosopher and journalist William Godwin

    Mary Wollstonecraft (also UK: ; 27 April 1759 – 10 September 1797) was an English writer and philosopher best known for her advocacy of women's rights.

Events After

  1. Politician Henry Clay (21) weds Lucretia Hart in Lexington, Kentucky

    Politician Henry Clay (21) weds Lucretia Hart in Lexington, Kentucky

  2. Fur trader and explorer David Thompson (29) marries Metis woman Charlotte Small (13) at Île-à-la-Crosse

    Fur trader and explorer David Thompson (29) marries Metis woman Charlotte Small (13) at Île-à-la-Crosse

  3. The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain Pierre-François Bouchard during Napoleon

    The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain Pierre-François Bouchard during Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign

  4. Napoleon Bonaparte pulls off a coup and becomes the dictator of France under the title of First Consul

    Napoleon Bonaparte pulls off a coup and becomes the dictator of France under the title of First Consul

  5. The metric system is first adopted in France

    The metric system is a system of measurement that standardises a set of base units and a nomenclature for describing relatively large and small quantities using decimal-based multiplicative unit...

More from the 1790s

Albany replaces New York City as the capital of New York

Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. It is also the county seat of, and the most populous city in, Albany County.

Russia appoints first Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books

Russia appoints first Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books

First US President George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address

The 1790 State of the Union Address was the inaugural State of the Union address, delivered by President George Washington to the United States Congress on January 8, 1790, at the Senate Chamber of…

French King Louis XVI sentenced to death by the National Convention during the French Revolution

Louis XVI was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 24, 1798?
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a popular insurrection against the British Crown in what was then the separate, but subordinate, Kingdom of Ireland. The main organising force was the Society of United Irishmen. First formed in Belfast by Presbyterians opposed to the landed Anglican establishment, the Society, despairing of reform, sought to secure a republic through a revolutionary union with the country's Catholic majority.
Why is Irish Rebellion of 1798 led by the United Irishmen against British rule begins significant?
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a popular insurrection against the British Crown in what was then the separate, but subordinate, Kingdom of Ireland.

Explore More

May 24 in HistoryYear 1798