A Celtic Chronology

1887 Ann Mansfield Sullivan began her courageous work with Helen Keller.

1888 James G. Blaine was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Frank McGurrin invented the “touch” typing system.

David H. McConnell founded a company known today as Avon.

The last victim of Jack the Ripper in London was Mary Jane Kelly in November.

The fall of Parnell from power, since 1887, the Catholic Church was investigating first his movement’s and then his own attitude in relation to the church’s teachings. This was heightened when it was believed Parnell endorsed political assassination. The matter was dropped when it was learned it was based on dubious evidence. In the end it was Parnell’s personal relationship with Kitty O’Shea, a married woman, that his enemies used to remove him from power.

The Cudahy Packing Company founded by Michael Cudahy of Kilkenny, Ireland. Cudahy’s pioneering of cold storage for meat changed the eating habits of America and the world.

Alfred Thayer Mahan published his most famous strategic study of naval power that shaped geopolitical thought for generations. His father was Dennis Hart Mahan a Professor of Engineering at West Point.

1891 Parnell died, and though leadership of the his patriot movement had already been passed to John Redmond, it was not without divisions within the movement. Thereafter the Patriots lost its control through coalition in British politics.

The United States very nearly went to war with Chile over a bar room brawl. The U.S. Minister to Chile was Patrick Eagan, who became concerned after a revolution in 1890-’91 installed a new government. He adopted an hostile attitude to the new government. In a Valparaiso bar, an incident occurred in which two American sailors were killed and eighteen others wounded. President Harrison was willing to go to war when the government of Chile would not give any satisfaction. Only the election of a new government in Chile stopped the war.

1892 Grover Cleveland was again elected President of the United States, the only President to win to non succeeding terms.

James “Gentleman Jim” Corbett won the first U. S. Heavyweight Boxing Championship with gloves by defeating John L. Sullivan. In 1897 Corbett lost the title to Bob Fitzsimmons.

Annie Moore of Cork, Ireland was the first person to process through the new immigration facility at Ellis Island in New York harbor. In 1997 a statue of her was dedicated.

1893 Gladstone again offered a home rule bill for Ireland that passed the House of Commons but was rejected by the House of Lords.

The Gaelic League was founded to promote cultural nationalism by Doctor Douglas Hyde. He wanted to de-anglicize Irish names, games, etc. and restore and re-emphasize Gaelic traditions. [Gaelic League founded by Lady Gregory. ?]

Louis Sullivan, the son of a Cork emigrant, designed the Transportation Building for the World’s Columbian Exposition. His work led to his being known as the “Father of Modernism” in architecture. He is also called the “Father of the Skyscraper.”

1894 The Duryea brothers, Charles Edgar, and J. Frank perfect the first successful gasoline powered automobile.

Peter James Maguire, known as the “Father of Labor Day” led the movement which resulted in the holiday. He was one of the founders of the American Federation of Labor (A.F.L.).

Mickey Cochrane baseball’s greatest catchers had a great year. Hugh Duffy another Irish baseball player posts a .438 batting average in professional baseball.

1896 The Irish Socialist Republican Party is founded by James Connolly.

William Jennings Bryan was the Democratic Nominee for President. At the Democratic national convention, Bryan made his famous “Cross of Gold” speech. William McKinley was the Republican nominee. McKinley won in large part because the big city Irish vote, normally Democratic, went to him.

James Brendan Connolly was the first olympic champion of the modern games. He won the first event, the triple jump. After all the other jumpers had gone, Connolly surveyed their marks, and then threw down his hat beyond the best mark. When he jumped, he jumped beyond his hat to win. Connolly went on to a career as an author. He wrote over 25 novels, and 200 short stories.

Captain “Hell Roaring” Mike Healy, whose mother was a mulatto slave and whose father was the Irish owner of a Georgian plantation, patrolled the 20,000 mile coastline of Alaska for the United States Coast Guard. He was the sole representative of the United States government in the area. In 1885, he received a Congressional medal praising his work.

1897 The Irish American Historical Society was formed to make better known the contribution of the Irish to American history.

Joseph McKenna appointed Attorney General of the United States.