Conference stkhlm::history

421.0. "The "United Englishmen"" by METSYS::THOMPSON () Thu May 08 1997 20:37

It's been about 200 years since Wolfe Tone and the "United Irishmen" 
tried to establish a Republic in Ireland. Their exploits are fairly
well known and will shortly be celebrated.

I've just recently come across a reference to the "United Englishmen" who,
if I've read it correctly, should also be celebrating a bi-centennial.


Does anyone know who they were? What exactly happened in 1797? I presume it's
a failed revolution.

Were they related to the "United Irishmen"? Perhaps the English arm of the
same movement?

Any pointers appreciated!

Mark

    Check out E.P. Thompson's "The Making of the English Working Class,"
    which contains, among other things, some discussion of underground
    anti-government conspiracies in England from the 1790s on.  The "United
    Englishmen" are described as a "shadowy" organisation; "...which was in
    the main an auxiliary to the United Irishmen -- indeed, in England the
    two appear to be almost indistinguishable."

Many thanks!
Mark