Alexander Martin Sullivan (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Martin Sullivan (1830 - 17 October 1884) was an Irish
politician
, lawyer
and journalist
from Bantry
, County Cork
.
He was the son of Daniel and Ann Sullivan, and brother to Timothy Daniel Sullivan
, who was Lord Mayor of Dublin
from 1886 to 1888.
Entering into journalism in 1850, Sullivan became assistant-editor of the The Nation
in 1855, and subsequently editor and proprietor. From 1861 to 1884, in conjunction with his elder brother, T. D. Sullivan, he made The Nation one of the most potent factors in the Irish Nationalist
cause, and also issued the Weekly News and Zozimus. Called to the Irish bar
in 1876, he was made Q.C. in 1881.
At the 1874 general election
he was elected as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Louth
, but although he did not formally resign, he did not take his seat. At the general election in April 1880
, Sullivan was again returned for Louth, but this time formally resigned from the Commons
on 18 May 1880, by accepting appointment as Steward of the Manor of Northstead. However, Charles Stewart Parnell
had been elected for both Cork City
and for Meath
, and chose to sit for Cork. At the resulting by-election
on 20 May 1880, Sullivan was returned unopposed to fill the vacancy in Meath, and held that seat until his resignation on 3 February 1882.
As a member of the Dublin Corporation
he secured a magnificent site for the Grattan Monument
, towards which he donated £400, the amount of a subscription by his admirers while he was undergoing imprisonment for a political offence in 1868. This monument was formally unveiled in January 1876. Between the years 1878 and 1882 he was engaged in many notable trials. His last great case was on 30 November 1883 when he was colleague of Lord Russell
in the defence of Patrick O'Donnell
for the murder of James Carey
, an informer. He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery
. In addition to his labours Alexander Sullivan was a great temperance reformer. He also wrote two notable books, The Story of Ireland and New Ireland and contributed many sketches (including some verse) to Irish Penny Readings (1879–1885).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
from Bantry
Bantry
Bantry is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland. It lies on the N71 national secondary road at the head of Bantry Bay, a deep-water gulf extending for 30 km to the west...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
He was the son of Daniel and Ann Sullivan, and brother to Timothy Daniel Sullivan
Timothy Daniel Sullivan
Timothy Daniel Sullivan was an Irish nationalist, journalist, politician and poet who wrote the Irish national hymn "God Save Ireland", in 1867...
, who was Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
from 1886 to 1888.
Entering into journalism in 1850, Sullivan became assistant-editor of the The Nation
The Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
in 1855, and subsequently editor and proprietor. From 1861 to 1884, in conjunction with his elder brother, T. D. Sullivan, he made The Nation one of the most potent factors in the Irish Nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
cause, and also issued the Weekly News and Zozimus. Called to the Irish bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1876, he was made Q.C. in 1881.
At the 1874 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
he was elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Louth
County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)
County Louth, otherwise known as Louth County or Louth, is a former parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, but although he did not formally resign, he did not take his seat. At the general election in April 1880
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, Sullivan was again returned for Louth, but this time formally resigned from the Commons
Resignation from the British House of Commons
Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. To circumvent this prohibition, a legal fiction is used...
on 18 May 1880, by accepting appointment as Steward of the Manor of Northstead. However, Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
had been elected for both Cork City
Cork City (UK Parliament constituency)
Cork City was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1880 to 1922 it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
and for Meath
Meath (UK Parliament constituency)
Meath was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Members of Parliament:-References:...
, and chose to sit for Cork. At the resulting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on 20 May 1880, Sullivan was returned unopposed to fill the vacancy in Meath, and held that seat until his resignation on 3 February 1882.
As a member of the Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
he secured a magnificent site for the Grattan Monument
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
, towards which he donated £400, the amount of a subscription by his admirers while he was undergoing imprisonment for a political offence in 1868. This monument was formally unveiled in January 1876. Between the years 1878 and 1882 he was engaged in many notable trials. His last great case was on 30 November 1883 when he was colleague of Lord Russell
Charles Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen
Charles Arthur Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen, GCMG, PC, was an Irish statesman of the 19th century, and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.-Early life:...
in the defence of Patrick O'Donnell
Patrick O'Donnell (Invincible)
Pádraig "Mhícheál Airt" Ó Domhnaill or Patrick O'Donnell, was an Irish republican who was responsible for killing James Carey, leader of the group that carried out the Phoenix Park Murders in Dublin, Ireland.- The Phoenix Park murders and Carey's death :On 6 May 1882, the most senior Irish civil...
for the murder of James Carey
James Carey
James Carey was a Fenian and informer most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park murders.Carey was son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer, who came from Celbridge, in Kildare, to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. He also was a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in...
, an informer. He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
. In addition to his labours Alexander Sullivan was a great temperance reformer. He also wrote two notable books, The Story of Ireland and New Ireland and contributed many sketches (including some verse) to Irish Penny Readings (1879–1885).