The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero

On the last day of his life, July 1, 1867, Thomas Francis Meagher, a prominent Irish nationalist and former governor of the Montana Territory, was aboard the steamboat G.A. Thompson on the Missouri River in Montana. Meagher was uneasy, ill with dysentery, and aware of threats to his life from enemies in the town of Fort Benton.

Meagher had led a turbulent life and faced many dangers; his significant roles and experiences included being a celebrated orator, the leader of the Irish Brigade during the American Civil War, and part of Irish revolutionary activities. His life was marked by a series of dramatic episodes, such as being sentenced to death by the British, escaping from a penal colony in Tasmania, and fighting for the Union in the American Civil War. Egan emphasizes Meagher’s perpetual status as an exile, searching for a place where he belongs.

During the evening, Meagher borrowed a book and pistols from his friend John Doran, expressing fear for his safety. The introduction ends with a dramatic and mysterious event: Meagher falling overboard into the Missouri River. Despite attempts to rescue him, he disappeared and his body was never recovered.