Early Years
Isaac Butt as a Young Barrister in 1849
Black-and-white, 1849 lithograph of Isaac Butt, founder of the Home Rule Movement.
Browne and Nolan Ltd., Dublin.Isaac Butt as a Young Barrister in 1849
Browne and Nolan Ltd., Dublin.
Browne and Nolan Ltd., Dublin.
Isaac Butt as a Young Barrister in 1849
Black-and-white, 1849 lithograph of Isaac Butt, founder of the Home Rule Movement.
Browne and Nolan Ltd., Dublin.Isaac Butt was born on 6 September 1813 near Stranorlar in Glenfin, County Donegal. His father was the rector of the Anglican parish of Stranorlar. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and trained as a barrister.
A brilliant debater, he started his career as a Tory politician for Dublin Corporation. He was known for his opposition to the nationalist leader Daniel O'Connell's campaign for the repeal of the Act of Union.
In his early years, Butt was a staunch unionist and Orangeman. He firmly believed that Ireland should be ruled by Westminster. All this changed when Butt witnessed the tragedy of the Great Famine (1845-1849) first hand. He saw how it could have been avoided if Ireland had its own government, and how inept Westminster was in dealing with the problem.
Home Rule
Isaac Butt Cartoon in 'Ireland’s Eye', circa 1870.
Satirical cartoon of Isaac Butt, by 'Spex', for the nineteenth-century magazine 'Ireland’s Eye'. Isaac Butt is holding a baby named 'Home Rule', a topic to which he devoted his entire political life.
Browne & Nolan, Dublin 1945.Isaac Butt Cartoon in 'Ireland’s Eye', circa 1870.
Browne & Nolan, Dublin 1945.
Browne & Nolan, Dublin 1945.
Isaac Butt Cartoon in 'Ireland’s Eye', circa 1870.
Satirical cartoon of Isaac Butt, by 'Spex', for the nineteenth-century magazine 'Ireland’s Eye'. Isaac Butt is holding a baby named 'Home Rule', a topic to which he devoted his entire political life.
Browne & Nolan, Dublin 1945.Nineteenth-Century Newspaper Cartoon of Butt and John Bull
Nineteenth-century newspaper cartoon showing Isaac Butt (centre) trying to persuade John Bull (England), left, to grant Home Rule.
The 'Finn Valley Voice'.Nineteenth-Century Newspaper Cartoon of Butt and John Bull
The 'Finn Valley Voice'.
The 'Finn Valley Voice'.
Nineteenth-Century Newspaper Cartoon of Butt and John Bull
Nineteenth-century newspaper cartoon showing Isaac Butt (centre) trying to persuade John Bull (England), left, to grant Home Rule.
The 'Finn Valley Voice'.As Butt's opinions changed, he gradually became involved in Irish nationalist politics.
After the 1848 Rising, Butt defended William Smith O'Brien in court. He also defended Fenian prisoners, such as Charles Kickham, between 1865 and 1869. As a result of this exposure, he became an advocate of Home Rule for Ireland.
In 1870, Butt founded the Home Government Association, which was renamed the Home Rule League in 1873. In 1871, he stood for election as a Home Rule candidate, and was returned as MP for Limerick. At first, the Home Rule Party failed to make an impact in Parliament.
Butt believed in peaceful persuasion, but many of his colleagues believed in 'obstructionism'. This involved disrupting the business of Parliament by using delaying tactics or talking for long periods during debates.