Henry Joy McCracken (1767-1798) was a radical Presbyterian who, along with Theobald Wolfetone (1763-1798) and Robert Emmet (1778-1803), founded the United Irishmen, a secret society fighting against the British occupation of Ireland. A leading figure in the fight for independence, McCracken remains an emblematic figure in Irish history. However, he was executed for his part in the Rebellions of 1798.
McCracken spent his youth in Belfast, where he was born into a well-to-do Presbyterian family. A good student, he was supported by his parents in his brilliant studies, and soon discovered the world of politics.
He soon made the acquaintance of major figures such as Robert Emmet (1778-1803) and the great Theobald Wolfetone (1763-1798), 2 men already heavily involved in the struggle against the British presence on Irish soil. The 3 of them then decided to found the United Irishmen, an underground society whose exclusively Protestant members fomented plots to undermine the English presence in Ireland. They also form an army of over 80,000 men.
The British authorities soon learned of the existence of this secret society, and immediately declared it illegal. The English are now on a mission to track down members of the United Irishmen, of which Henry McCracken is a natural member.
McCracken decided to travel all over Ireland to escape the authorities: there was no lack of money: McCracken had invested in the cotton industry from an early age, and was one of the wealthy industrialists of the time.
After several months on the run, McCracken was finally arrested in October 1796, and held in Kilmainham Gaol. The deplorable conditions of his detention soon led to health problems that weakened him enormously. He was finally released on bail in December 1797.
Henry Joy McCracken resumed his activities in 1798, taking an active part in the Rebellion of 1798 and planning most of the military operations. A fine strategist, he was initially very successful in battle, but eventually saw his army fall in several fierce battles.
Aware of this terrible failure, McCracken fled again, but was eventually captured and court-martialed. He is offered a lenient sentence on condition that he agrees to testify against other members of the United Irishmen. Loyal to his cause, McCracken refuses, and is eventually sentenced to death.
He was hanged in Kilmainham Gaol on July 17, 1798.
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