John Savage (Fenian)

John Savage (December 13, 1828 – October 9, 1888) was a poet, journalist and author. A member of both the Young Irelanders and the Fenians.

Early life

John Savage, who was born in Dublin on 13 December, 1828. As a young Art student in Dublin he was drawn into the insurrectionary movement in ‘48. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 350] On the 11 March 1848 he wrote a letter which appeared in "The Nation" newspaper stating: “A the period, I trust, is rapidly approaching when the skill and valour of our citizen soldiers will be put to the test, I am induced, on the part of a large number of students of the different professions, to suggest the immediate organisation in Dublin of a society on the basis of the Ecole Polytechnique of Paris.” ["The Nation", 11 March 1848, The article continued: “I think the necessity for such an organisation at the present crisis is obvious, because, although I know that the determined aid of a larger proportion of students may be relied on in support of Nationality, I feel no less certain that the discipline, skill and united action essential to render that aid effective are sadly wanting. I refrain from entering into the details and the objects and the duties of such a society which, doubtless, will at once suggest themselves to your mind, and which, I believe, could by no one be more fitly mapped out than by you who have laboured so strenuously to rouse the young blood of Ireland for the noble struggle which is approaching. I am sure that many veteran Irishmen who have served as officers in the British Army would lend us their aid in the direction of such an under taking.”] A Students’ Club was later formed as a direct result of this letter.

tudents’ Club

In April, 1848, Savage and John de Courcey Young produced an provocative publication called "The Patriot", which was at once suppressed and seized by the British Government. In the same month, at a meeting of the Students’ Club, with Savage presiding, at their rooms, No. 27 Eden Quay, it was decided to appoint a subcommittee of five “ to ascertain and report on the best method of the members of the Club arming themselves individually.” ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 350] This followed on from a proposition by Richard Dalton Williams, one of the most popular of all The Nations poets. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 243 & 350]

Irish Tribune

Savage wrote poems for the "Irish Tribune", the first number of which appeared on 10 June, 1848, and which was surpressed after the fifth issue. It was his association with the Irish Tribune which would become largely responsible for developing his poetic and literary’ talents. The opening stanza of his first poem, "Up! Up! Brothers All"," was described as a "National Anthem of Freedom" ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 351]

Up! Up! Brothers all
For Liberty dear!
From Dark Donegal
To sea-beat Cape Clear,
From Achill’s west isles
To Ben Heder’s head
A young nation smiles
Round Liberty’s bed.

Because of his activities in the School of Art, the Royal Dublin Society suggested that he could not remain a student in the Academy and on the arrest of Kevin Izod O’Doherty and Dalton Williams, the registered proprietors of the "Tribune" in July, Savage, in order to avoid arrest left Dublin. He went to County Tipperary in search of William Smith O’Brien and the other Irish Confederation leaders. Meeting John O’Mahony, the two organised an attack on the barracks at Portlaw, County Waterford, but were not successful and had to withdraw for want of adequate forces. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 351]

Escape to America

He succeeded in escaping on board a ship from Dublin to America, arriving in New York on 7 November, 1848. Within a week he was appointed a proof reader on the "New York Tribune". In January, 1854, Savage became involved with John Mitchel’s first American newspaper, "The Citizen". In the August of that year he married Louise Reid daughter of Samuel Chester Reid, a sea captain, who according to T.F. O’Sullivan, had the distinction of designing the present form of the American flag. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 351]

Author

In 1856 Savage published his "'98 and '48" in addition to his "Fenian Heroes and Martyrs" and "Picturesque Ireland". ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 351]

In 1857 Savage went to Washington, were he became the principal leader writer on the "States Journal". He wrote a tragedy entitled "Sybil" which was then produced in various parts of America, and would later be published in 1850. In 1860 he published "Our Leading Representative Men", containing sketches of Presidential candidates in 1861. One of these sketches he expanded and published it as a "Life of Andrew Johnson". ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 352]

According to T.F. O’Sullivan, Savage is said to have joined the 69th Regiment and to have taken part in the Civil War on the side of the Federal Government. During this time he wrote inspiring War poems one of which, "The Starry Flag"," was written during May, 1861, on board the United States transport, Marmion, as she sailed up the Potomac through the massed batteries of the enemy. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 352]

Various editions of Savage’s poems have been published in America. His finest poem O’Sullivan says was "Shane’s Head"."

Fenians

Savage played a leading part in organising the Fenian movement in America, travelling through the United States on their behalf. He was proposed by President Johnson as United States Consul in Leeds but the appointment was never made. He became very popular as a lecturer. In 1879, St. .John’s College. Fordham, conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 352]

Death

John Savage died in his sixtieth year at his summer residence at Laurelside, near Spraigueville, Pa., on the 9th October, 1888, leaving a widow and an adopted daughter. ["The Young Irelanders", T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman, Tralee, 1st Edition July 1944. Pg 352]

References

External Links

[http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0fenian--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-600---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=fenian&cl=CL1.1&d=HASH2dd7c743bb85cb51fbef90 Address of the Council of the Fenian Brotherhood given by John Savage]