1884-1887
The Dynamite War: The First Irish Republican CampaignIrish Republicanism in the 19th Century (1534-1850)
By the late 19th century, religious and political violence had been a persistent issue in Ireland since the local failure of the 16th century reformation, with most Irish clergy, officials, and elites refusing to accept the Elizabethan oath of supremacy.4 This resistance to British rule continued for centuries, persisting even after Ireland’s partition in 1921.5
The Irish Republicans’ pursuit of self-determination was shaped by the impact of legislation enacted by the British Government. By 1871, Irish descendants constituted 5% of the United States population. It was from this demographic that a group of Irish Americans devised plans to attack mainland Britain.
Two central figures of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) who operated in Britain, Thomas Kelly and Timothy Deasy, were captured by the police in Manchester. Their comrades orchestrated a breakout, leading to an armed assault on the van transporting Kelly and Deasy. During this attack, which involved about 30 Irish Fenians, a policeman was killed, and both Kelly and Deasy successfully escaped.
The IRB was committed to establishing an independent Irish Republic. The Manchester incident led to numerous arrests and the execution of three Irishmen, who became known as the Manchester Martyrs.6
The botched attempt to free Richard Burke, a senior IRB leader, from Clerkenwell Detention Centre in London hardened already hostile British attitudes toward the republican cause.7 The failed prison break in 1867 resulted in a massive explosion, destroying a row of houses and causing many casualties.8 This led to a public outcry, as well as an investigation by Inspector Williamson of the Detective Branch, which culminated in the last public execution in England that of Michael Barrett in 1868.9 It also led to an expansion of the detective department.10
The 1882 assassination of English statesman Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke, the permanent Irish under secretary, in Dublin by a group calling themselves the Invincibles
Edward Jenkins
The Origin of Special Branch
As the threat of Irish terrorism in Britain escalated the Home Secretary sought Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone’s support to bring expertise from Dublin to London. Edward Jenkinson, the talented head of covert counter-Fenian operations in Ireland, was chosen for this task. 29
Jenkinson quickly established an effective English branch of his operation, headed by Major Nicholas Gosselin. Within the year, Gosselin claimed to have the addresses of all the Fenian centres and officers in Great Britain.30
Jenkinson’s combination of irregular agents (including Le Carron), informers, and cooperation with CID’s Head Williamson, Special Irish Branch officers like John Littlechild, and Gosselin enabled the Home Secretary to assure the Queen of the Fenian threat being “well in hand”.31
However, Jenkinson’s tenure in Special Branch ended controversially in 1887, following the cessation of the Fenian bombing campaign. His resignation was fuelled by feelings of under appreciation and scepticism from the Home Secretary about his methods, which some considered overly clandestine, as well as rivalry with the Special Irish Branch.32
Following Jenkinson’s resignation, his duties were handed over to the CID. They were handled by the newly created D Section, known commonly as Special Branch.33 This was the first unit to use the name, and it would go on to be one of the units that formed the Metropolitan Police Special Branch in 1911.34
Edward Jenkins
The Origin of Special Branch
As the threat of Irish terrorism in Britain escalated the Home Secretary sought Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone’s support to bring expertise from Dublin to London. Edward Jenkinson, the talented head of covert counter-Fenian operations in Ireland, was chosen for this task. 29
Jenkinson quickly established an effective English branch of his operation, headed by Major Nicholas Gosselin. Within the year, Gosselin claimed to have the addresses of all the Fenian centres and officers in Great Britain.30
Jenkinson’s combination of irregular agents (including Le Carron), informers, and cooperation with CID’s Head Williamson, Special Irish Branch officers like John Littlechild, and Gosselin enabled the Home Secretary to assure the Queen of the Fenian threat being “well in hand”.31
However, Jenkinson’s tenure in Special Branch ended controversially in 1887, following the cessation of the Fenian bombing campaign. His resignation was fuelled by feelings of under appreciation and scepticism from the Home Secretary about his methods, which some considered overly clandestine, as well as rivalry with the Special Irish Branch.32
Following Jenkinson’s resignation, his duties were handed over to the CID. They were handled by the newly created D Section, known commonly as Special Branch.33 This was the first unit to use the name, and it would go on to be one of the units that formed the Metropolitan Police Special Branch in 1911.34
References
- pp.159-160, Jefferies, H. “Why the Reformation Failed in Ireland.” Irish Historical Studies, vol. 40, no. 158, 2016, pp.151–70.
- Ellis, S. “The Kildare Rebellion and the Early Henrician Reformation”, The Historical Journal, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1976, pp.807-830; Morgan, H. Tyrone’s Rebellion. The Boydell Press, 1999; Simms, J. “The War of the Two Kings 1685–91”, A New History of Ireland: Early Modern Ireland 1534-1691. Oxford University Press, 2009, pp.478-508; Gahan, D. The People’s Rising. Gill and MacMillan, 1995; Rynne, F. “Young Ireland and the Irish Revolutions”, French Journal of British Studies, XIX-2, 2014, pp.105-124; English, R. Armed Struggle. Oxford University Press, 2003.
- pp.2-4, Wilson, R. and Adams, I. Special Branch. Biteback Publishing, 2015.
- pp.227-236, McCord, N. “The Fenians and Public Opinion in Great Britain”, University Review, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1967, pp.227-240.
- pp.490, 486, Trial of William Desmond (38), Timothy Desmond (46), Nicholas English (46), John O’Keefe (25), Michael Barrett (27), alias Jackson, Anne Justice (22). Old Bailey Proceedings Online, version 9.0, 1868. www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18680406-4121705
- pp.233-235, McCord, N. “The Fenians and Public Opinion in Great Britain”, University Review, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1967, pp.227-240; pp. 5-6, Wiliamson, R. and Adams, I. Special Branch. Biteback Publishing, 2015.
- pg. 63, Smith, P. Policing Victorian London. Greenwood Press, 1985.
1881 - 1894
Thwarting Anarchism: The Maintenance of Special Branch after the Dynamite War
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