Fenian dynamite campaign

Updated on Feb 03, 2024

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The Fenian dynamite campaign (or Fenian bombing campaign) was a paramilitary campaign orchestrated by Irish republicans against the British Empire, between the years 1881 and 1885. The campaign was associated with Fenianism; that is to say the Irish revolutionary organisations which aimed to establish an independent Irish Republic; such as the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Fenian Brotherhood, Clan na Gael and the United Irishmen of America. The campaign, led by Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa and other Irishmen exiled in the United States, was a form of asymmetrical warfare and targeted infrastructure, government, military and police targets in Great Britain (particularly London). The campaign later inspired the Easter Rising of 1916 and more immediately, led to the establishment of secret police group Special Branch (originally known as the Special Irish Branch).

Timeline of the campaign

1881 and 1882

14 Jan 1881: A bomb exploded at a military barracks in Salford, Lancashire.

15 Mar 1881: A bomb was found and defused in the Mansion House, London.

1881: Bombs exploded at a military barracks in Chester and at Hatton Garden police station in Liverpool. Another bomb was planted at Liverpool Town Hall, but a police officer moved it away from the building before it exploded.

12 May 1882: A bomb exploded at the Mansion House, London.

1883

January 1883: In Glasgow, bombs exploded at a gasworks, a coaling shed and a canal viaduct. About a dozen people were injured.

15 Mar 1883: In London, bombs exploded at government buildings at Whitehall and at the offices of The Times newspaper. There were no injuries.

30 Oct 1883: Two bombs exploded in the London Underground, at Paddington (Praed Street) station (injuring 70 people) and Westminster Bridge station.

1884

25 Feb 1884: A bomb exploded in the left-luggage room of Victoria station, London. The building was empty at the time and no-one was injured. Other bombs were defused at Charing Cross station, Ludgate Hill station and Paddington station.

30 May 1884: Three bombs exploded in London: at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Metropolitan Police Service's Special Irish Branch; in the basement of the Carlton Club, a gentlemen's club for members of the Conservative Party; and outside the home of Conservative MP Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn. Ten people were injured. A fourth bomb was planted at the foot of Nelson's Column but failed to explode.

13 Dec 1884: Three IRB members, who were planting a bomb on London Bridge, were killed when their bomb prematurely exploded. One of the men was William Mackey Lomasney.

1885

02 Jan 1885: A bomb exploded at Gower Street station, London.

24 Jan 1885: Three bombs exploded in London, in the House of Commons chamber, in Westminster Hall and in the Banqueting Room of the Tower of London. Two police officers and four civilians were injured. Two men were sentenced to penal servitude for life as a result.

References

Fenian dynamite campaign Wikipedia

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