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Assassination of D’Arcy McGee

Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a journalist, poet, and Canadian politician, was assassinated in Ottawa on 7 April 1868. It was generally believed at the time that his murder was part of a Fenian conspiracy. Patrick James Whelan, an Irish immigrant, was charged with the crime, found guilty, and hanged publicly in Ottawa on 11 Feb. 1869. The crown, however, never accused Whelan of being a Fenian, and the charges against other alleged members of the conspiracy were dismissed.

Related Biographies

CAMERON, JOHN HILLYARD
DESBARATS, GEORGE-ÉDOUARD (baptized George-Édouard-Amable) (George Edward)
MACDONALD, Sir JOHN ALEXANDER
McGEE, THOMAS D’ARCY
O’REILLY, JAMES
RICHARDS, Sir WILLIAM BUELL
WHELAN, PATRICK JAMES
WILSON, Sir ADAM

Other Resources

ARCHIVED - Thomas D'Arcy McGee - People - Canadian Confederation - Library and Archives Canada. Content archived on 26 Nov. 2019
Canada’s Only Assassination and Last Public Hanging | John Boyko
Canadian Personalities - Thomas D'Arcy McGee
Feb 11, 1869-Political assassination, last public hanging in Canada. Content archived on 5 June 2018 (original link)
The Assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee
The Assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee - The Canadian Encyclopedia. Content archived on 1 Dec. 2024
The Fenians – Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, The Idealist | Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Thomas D'Arcy McGee - Wikipedia
Thomas D’Arcy McGee's Assassination - Historica Canada Blog. Content archived on 15 Sept. 2015
Thomas McGee - Canada's First Political Assassination - Canada History and Mysteries
University of Alberta Faculty of Law Blog: Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Creator of Canadian Identity

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