Thomas Miller Beach
Encyclopedia
Thomas Miller Beach (September 26, 1841- April 1, 1894) was an English
spy
.
His services enabled the British Government to take measures which led to the fiasco of the Canadian invasion of 1870 and Kiel's surrender in 1871, and he supplied full details concerning the various Irish-American associations, in which he himself was a prominent member.
His infiltration of the Fenians and subsequent reports and espionage greatly aided Canada in protecting itself from the Fenian raids
which took place from 1866 - 1871.
For twenty-five years he lived in Detroit, Michigan
and other places in the United States
, paying occasional visits to Europe, and all the time carrying his life in his hand.
, England
. He had an adventurous character, and when nineteen years old went to Paris
, where he found employment in business connected with America.
, he crossed the Atlantic in 1861 and enlisted in the Northern army, taking the name of Henri Le Caron.
In 1864, he married a young lady who had helped him to escape from some Confederate
marauders; and by the end of the war he rose to the rank of major. In 1865, through a companion in arms named John O'Neill
, he was brought into contact with Fenianism
, and having learnt of the Fenian plot against Canada
(the Fenian raids
), he mentioned the designs when writing home to his father in England. Beach's father told his local M.P.
, who in turn told the Home Secretary
, and the latter asked Beach to arrange for further information.
He was in the secrets of the "new departure" in 1879-1881, and in the latter year had an interview with Charles Stewart Parnell
at the House of Commons
, when the Irish leader allegedly spoke sympathetically of an armed revolution in Ireland.
of 1889 put an end to Beach's spying career. He was subpoenaed by 'The Times
, and in the witness-box the whole story came out, all the efforts of Sir Charles Russell
in cross-examination failing to shake his testimony. Nevertheless, The Times lost the case, Beach's career, for good or evil, was at an end, and Parnell, who had always insisted that he was opposed to violence, was completely exonerated.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
.
His services enabled the British Government to take measures which led to the fiasco of the Canadian invasion of 1870 and Kiel's surrender in 1871, and he supplied full details concerning the various Irish-American associations, in which he himself was a prominent member.
His infiltration of the Fenians and subsequent reports and espionage greatly aided Canada in protecting itself from the Fenian raids
Fenian raids
Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...
which took place from 1866 - 1871.
For twenty-five years he lived in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and other places in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, paying occasional visits to Europe, and all the time carrying his life in his hand.
Early career
Beach was born in ColchesterColchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, England
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He had an adventurous character, and when nineteen years old went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he found employment in business connected with America.
Army life
Infected with the excitement of the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he crossed the Atlantic in 1861 and enlisted in the Northern army, taking the name of Henri Le Caron.
In 1864, he married a young lady who had helped him to escape from some Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
marauders; and by the end of the war he rose to the rank of major. In 1865, through a companion in arms named John O'Neill
John O'Neill (Fenian)
General John O'Neill was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood .He was born in Ireland, moved to the US, and served in the Union Army in the Civil War....
, he was brought into contact with Fenianism
Fenian Brotherhood
The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish republican organization founded in the United States in 1858 by John O'Mahony and Michael Doheny. It was a precursor to Clan na Gael, a sister organization to the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Members were commonly known as "Fenians"...
, and having learnt of the Fenian plot against Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(the Fenian raids
Fenian raids
Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...
), he mentioned the designs when writing home to his father in England. Beach's father told his local M.P.
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,...
, who in turn told the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, and the latter asked Beach to arrange for further information.
Irish connections
He was proficient in medicine, among other qualifications for this post, and he remained for years on intimate terms with the most extreme men in the Fenian organization.He was in the secrets of the "new departure" in 1879-1881, and in the latter year had an interview with 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...
at the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, when the Irish leader allegedly spoke sympathetically of an armed revolution in Ireland.
End of career
The Parnell CommissionParnell Commission
The Parnell Commission was a judicial inquiry in the late 1880s into allegations of crimes by Irish parliamentarian Charles Stewart Parnell which resulted in his vindication.-Background:...
of 1889 put an end to Beach's spying career. He was subpoenaed by 'The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, and in the witness-box the whole story came out, all the efforts of Sir Charles Russell
Charles Russell
- People :* Charles Addison Russell , U.S. Representative from Connecticut* Charles Albert George Russell , Essex and England batman* Charles Edward Russell , American muckraking journalist, author, and activist...
in cross-examination failing to shake his testimony. Nevertheless, The Times lost the case, Beach's career, for good or evil, was at an end, and Parnell, who had always insisted that he was opposed to violence, was completely exonerated.