strade

Michael Davitt - The man behind the Land League

from National Library of Ireland on The Commons

• 6 older comments, and then…
• Niall McAuley said:

  At wikipedia. The photo there is 1895, and a lot less hair.

• Niall McAuley said:

  The catalogue says: Taken during a lecture tour of the United States.
  
  Per that wikipedia article: Shortly before his arrest, Davitt had persuaded his family to emigrate to the United States. In July 1878, Davitt made a trip to visit them and raise money through a lecture tour to bring his mother and youngest sister back to Ireland (his father had since died). Upon his arrival in New York, he was welcomed by the United States-based republican organisation Clan na Gael and its leader, John Devoy. In its first such venture of the kind, the Clan organised Davitt's lecture tour, which lasted until December.
  
  So July-December 1878, after he was in prison but before the Land War.

• beachcomber australia said:

  Flickr is sometimes amazing! Lots of images of Michael Davitt, gradually growing balder and beardier ...
  "About 1880" via Paul O'Farrell
  1884 book via Internet Archive Book Images
  In 1895 via State Library Victoria Collections
  In 1904 via TG4

• Seoirse Ó Dúic - an duine Phléimeanach said:

  One of only two men who spoke out publicly against the Limerick Pogrom, together with John Redmond. A true gentleman

• beachcomber australia said:

  I see the Wikipedia photo of 1895 is sourced from the State Library of Victoria (Australia), like a similarly dressed one above. Likely from a photo session when Michael Davitt visited Australia in that year. Via Trove a glowing contemporary description of the man ...
  ...Davitt came, not as a prince by the accident of birth, and with no other claim to a princely title, but as a prince among men by virtue of the possession of some of the rarest gifts of .Nature, a splendid intellect, a manly presence, and a self-sacrificing zeal for the welfare of his fellow-men. ...
  ... The secret of the love which people bear to Michael Davitt is further shown in the magnetic presence of the man. With a commanding figure, and a keenly intellectual face, there is an irresistible attraction which commands attention, and which inspires confidence and respect. Possessing a finely - strung nervous temperament, and with a face beaming with kindness, he still gives the impression that he possesses a reserve force of scathing sarcasm and fierce invective with which he could smite his enemies if occasion demanded. His language is unmistakable— clear, outspoken, and honest, every word bearing the mint mark of earnest conviction. ...
  
  See - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/124811042