Irish-Americans,
dates, facts, etc.....
Irish
born Patrick Maguire was the first man of Christopher Columbus’ crew to step on
North American soil.
Perhaps the greatest stage actress of the
20th Century, Laurette Taylor first starred on Broadway in “Peg O’
My Heart”.
During the World War II Battle of the
Solomon Islands the American ship Juneau sank with the five Sullivan brothers
of Waterloo, Iowa aboard.
Charles Carroll of Maryland was the
longest-lived and only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, school
teacher, was the first American civilian to give her life to the National space
program.
Grand opera was introduced to this county
by New York industrialist Dominic Lynch.
Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier
of World War II with 28 citations for bravery, including the Medal of Honor.
Margaret Hayes, heroine of the Battle of
Monmouth in 1779, become known to history as “Molly Pitcher”.
Comedic genius and creator of the
Keystone Cops, Mack Sennett was the son of Irish immigrants born in Nova
Scotia.
From housemaid to socialite to heroic
survivor of the Titanic tragedy, Margaret Brown becomes immortalized as “The
Unsinkable Molly Brown”.
Hero in two World Wars, William “Wild
Bill” Donovan became the first chief of American counter-intelligence
Recognized as one of baseball’s greatest
managers, John McGraw won ten pennants.
A pioneer of modern movements in American
painting Georgia O’Keefe won fame for her starkness and simplicity in her work.
Irish born James Hoban, County Killkenny,
was the Architect of the White House, rebuilt the White House after its burning
in 1814 and later assisted in building the United States Capitol. James Hoban participated in the laying of
the cornerstones both at the White House and Capitol.
Oliver Pollock, a wealthy merchant,
advanced the United States $300,000 during the Revolutionary War which helped
assure his close friend George Washington’s victory.
Leaving school at a young age to become a
cowboy, Will Rogers became one of America’s greatest humorists.
John L. Sullivan, the world’s first
recognized Heavyweight Boxing Champion held the title for ten years.
Beginning as a scout for the U. S. Army
and later a guide for Teddy Roosevelt, Tom Mix is one of America’s greatest
western film heros.
Once described as the fastest pitcher
ever to play the game, Walter Johnson won 416 games and pitched 113 shutouts
despite playing for a losing team throughout his career.
A schoolteacher, James Holland born in
County Cork, moved to the United States and invented an “underwater cigar”
which became the world’s first submarine.
After opening her own bakery Margaret
Haughery is credited with the notion of selling packaged crackers which enable
her upon her death in 1882 to leave more than $1 million to charity.
Victor Herbert was the first American
composer to write an original score for the movies and is often called “The
Prince of Operetta”.
John Gregg invented the Gregg system of
shorthand, which later was adapted to 14 other languages.
Credited with many innovations in both
newspapers and the printing industry, it was John Dunlap of Philadelphia who
printed the Declaration of Independence.
One of America’s greatest agricultural
advances, the reaper, was invented by Cyrus McCormick.
Edgar Allen Poe, author of America’s best
known poem “The Raven” and the father of modern mystery and detective fiction.
John Barry won the first and last naval
battles of the American Revolution, thus earning him the title of “Father of
the American Navy”.
A leading pioneer in the aviation
industry and one of America’s first women pilots and military instructors was
Nancy Corrigan.
Mary Harris Jones, one of America’s early
labor champion, is known to many as “Mother Jones”.
Bobby Jones who never took a golf lesson
in his life is one of America’s greatest golfers ever to step on the links.
After having her own sight restored Anne
Sullivan Macy, educator and teacher of Helen Keller, broke down the walls of
silence by communication through means of finger spelling.
Andrew McNally began as a journeyman
printer and then teamed up in 1892 with William Rand to found the Rand-McNally
empire.
Banished to Australia from England,
Thomas Francis Meagher, a native of County Waterford, escaped to America and
commanded the famed Irish Brigade and volunteers in the battles of Manassas,
Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville during the Civil War.
Twelve of the heros who defended and died
at the Alamo were of Irish ancestry, among them Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, and
Bill Travis.
Second Lt. John J. McCinty, III, born in
Boston, and a resident of South Carolina, recipient of the Medal of Honor in
Vietnam.
Colin P. Kelly, Jr., a pilot shot down on
December 10, 1941, was the first decorated hero after the December 7th
attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Medal of Honor our highest decoration
awarded to members of the Armed Forces, was instituted by President Abraham
Lincoln. The Medal of Honor was first
presented in 1861. The 202 Irish-born
recipients constitute the largest group of immigrants to receive this award
from President Lincoln.
Henry Ford (1863-1947) son of Irish
immigrants, inventor of Model T and founder of automotive industry.
William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951)
legendary editor and publisher.
Howard Hughes (1905-1976) U.S. aviator,
pioneer and industrialist.
James Cagney (1904-1986) legendary
American films “tough guy”.
John Ford (1895-1973) famed director and
winner of four Oscars including “Grapes of Wrath”.
Jackie Gleason (1916-1987) creator of the
“Honeymooners” and famed comic entertainer.
Grace Kelly (1929-1982) legendry film
star and Princess of Monaco.
John McCormack (1884-1945) famed Irish
tenor born in County Westmeath, became
a U.S. citizen in 1917.
Spencer Tracy (1900-1967) 30 years a film
actor, including “Boys Town” and “Captain Courageous”.
Matthew Brady (1822-1896) photographer
and historian documented the Civil War and America in the 1860's.
Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) author
received Pulitzer Prize for “Gone with the Wind” a novel about an Irish
immigrant family living in the South during the Civil War.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) famed animator,
studio owner and pioneer in the motion picture industry.
James Michael Curley, famed Mayor of
Boston, and friend to working “charwomen”.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, feminist and
social reformer.
John Edward O’Connor, born County Cork,
agile acrobat feature of Ringling Barnum and Baily Circus and father of famed
dancer Donald O’Connor.
Catherine McCarthy, known as the jolly
Irishwoman of the Lower East Side and mother of notorious outlaw Billy the Kid.
Bat Masterson, famed gunfighter who
returned to New York City after assisting Wyatt Earp, to pursue a career in
journalism.
Annie Moore, at age fifteen first
immigrant to enter Ellis Island in 1892, from County Cork.
Nellie Bly, New York journalist, who
traveled around the world in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes.
Kate Smith, a star for decades, famous
for her 1938 singing of “God Bless America” and her unceasing patriotic devotion to bond fund rallies during
World War II.
Johanna Butler, known as “Mother Butler”
educator and religious superior, founder of Marymount in Tarrytown, New York
and 14 other schools throughout the nation.
Eliza Marie Gillespie, educator,
religious leader and civil war heroine, founded eight military hospitals during
the Civil War, known as the “Angel of the Battlefield”. Also, founded St. Mary’s College across from
Notre Dame University.
Sister Julie McGroarty, founder of
Trinity College, Washington, D.C.
Mary Flannery O’Connor, novelist
published under the pen name of Flannery O’Connor.
Mary O’Hara, novelist of the American
West, most famous work “My Friend Flicka”.
Nellie Taylor Ross, first woman governor
in the Nation. Elected governor of
Wyoming in 1924, later appointed to first woman Director of the U.S. Mint 1933
and was the first woman to have her likeness on a mint medal. Ms. Ross’ name appears on the cornerstone of
the U. S. Gold Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Maureen Connolly, nicknamed “Little Mo” 1951 Tennis Hall of Fame, won every tennis match she played, including three times U.S. Singles and three time Wimbledon championships.
1683 Reverend Francis Makemie, County Donegal, founds
Presbyterian Church in U.S.
1740 Edward and William Patterson, County Tyrone,
first manufacture of tin in America at New Britain, Connecticut.
1765 John Hannon, Irish immigrant, opened first
chocolate shop in America, at Dorchester, Massachusetts.
1775 Daniel Boone, accompanied by other Irish
origin pioneers McGrady and McBride commence settlement of Kentucky.
3-17-1776 Password of George Washington’s troops at Boston this day is “St. Patrick”.
1776 Declaration of Independence eight original
signers were of Irish decent.
1784 Daniel McCormack elected first president of
newly formed Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
1810 Thomas O’Connor publishes first Irish-American
newspaper “Shamrock”. He was also a
leader of Tammy Hall.
1813 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, Victor at the
Battle of Lake Erie, opens door to Japan. His mother was born in County Down.
3-17-1820 First celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in
St. Louis, Missouri.
1824 Andrew Jackson born, President and Victor of
the Battle of New Orleans, his parents were from County Antrim.
1847 American ship Jamestown arrives in Cork,
Ireland, with food to aid famine.
1861 Archibal Mellon, from County Tyrone, settles
in Pennsylvania, his grandson Andrew is appointed Secretary of the Treasury and
his family remain prominent in industry, banking and art patrons.
1862 Confederate General Patrick Cleburn, born
County Cork, cited for valor at the Battle of Shiloh.
1873 The “Big Bonanza” of the Comstock Lode made by
Irish-Americans John Mackay, James Fair, James Flood and William O’Brien.
1888 Irish-American playwright Eugene O’Neill born.
1952 Pvt. First Class Alford McLaughlin, a native
of Alabama, received the Medal of Honor in Korea.
1987 Patrolman Thomas Delahanty, received the
Distinguished Service Award for his valor in the assassination attempt on
President Reagan, Washington, D.C.
9-11-01 So many made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation, among them were citizens, policemen, firemen and rescue workers both Irish born and Irish-Americans. God bless them, we shall never forget.
For additional information you may refer to the
following or numerous other sources:
1001 Things everyone should know about Irish
American History by Edward T. O’Donnell
