Cornelius Colbert

Infobox Military Person
name= "Cornelius Colbert"
lived= 1888 – May 8, 1916
placeofbirth= Athea, County Limerick, Ireland
placeofdeath= Kilmainham Jail, Dublin City, Ireland


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= Irish Volunteers
serviceyears= 1913 - 1916
rank= Captain
commands= F Company
unit=
battles= Easter Rising
awards=
laterwork=

Cornelius Colbert (1888 – May 8, 1916) was an Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Éireann. Born in Athea, County Limerick, at a young age his family moved to Dublin, and in 1913 he was an early member of the Irish Volunteers, perhaps the youngest member of its Provisional Committee. He also joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Soon after Patrick Pearse asked him to be a drill instructor for his St. Enda's School.

In 1916 Colbert took part in the Easter Rising. As captain of F company in the 4th battalion under Commandant Eamonn Ceannt he was in charge of commandeering Watkin's Brewery. When the position proved too large and strategically insignificant he moved the company to the Jameson's Distillery, where he became a "de facto" commandant. Following the surrender he was court-martialled and executed by firing squad on May 8.

Tim Healy commented in his memoirs: "Amongst the prisoners was an acrobat named Con Colbert. He had insisted on taking the place of his "Commandant" when surrender was resolved on, saying to him, "You're a married man. I'm single, and you'll be shot. Resign." "Never," said the Commandant. "Then," said Colbert, "we'll depose you." So it was done, and Colbert gave the surrender, and was sentenced to death. On the morning of his execution a soldier pinned on his coat a patch of white cloth, intended to indicate his heart, but on the wrong side. "My heart isn't there, you fool!" laughed Colbert. While the change was being made his Franciscan confessor said to him, "Colbert, it's unfair to disturb a man going to die, but for years I have begged God for a favour which He has not granted me." "Well, Father Moysius," said Colbert, "when I meet Almighty God, what you want is the first thing I'll ax Him for." [ [http://www.chaptersofdublin.com/books/THealy/healy42.htm The Easter "Rising" ] at www.chaptersofdublin.com]

Defiant to the end, at his execution he uttered the phrase "Better a dead man, than a live coward."

Colbert was a deeply religious Catholic, and refrained from smoking, drinking, and swearing, as well as dancing during Lent.Colbert Railway Station in Limerick City is named after him. Con Colbert Road in Dublin is named in his honour.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4272 Cornelius Colbert's Gravesite]