Young Irelander, Fenian, Soldier, Author, Poet  

Michael Cavanagh was born in Cappoquin, western Waterford County in 1822. His father Andrew was a cooper and his mother Mary, the daughter of a farmer.  Michael’s friend the poet John Boyle O’Reilly credits his mother Mary who was instructed in the Irish language with installing in him a love of Irish language and culture when growing up and attending the local Christian Brothers school.  

As a young man Michael was influenced by the Repeal Movement of O’Connell and the tragic effects of the great famine including the harsh evictions of tenants from nearby estates. In his early twenties he became involved with the Young Islander movement and although playing a secondary “foot soldier” role befriended many of the leaders including John O’Mahoney, Michael Doheny, Thomas Meagher, and Devin Reilly. He took an active part in the 1849 rebellions in both Cappoquin and Waterford that ended in dismal failure and his involvement was known by British authorities who offered a reward of 100 pounds for his capture.  

Evading capture for several months Michael escaped to New York City arriving in January of 1850 at age 28, where he found employment in the family trade as a cooper. He moved to live with his sister in Waterford, New York north of Albany and was granted U.S. citizenship in Troy, New York in October of 1855. 

Cavanagh’s very close friend John O’Mahoney founded the Fenian Brotherhood in 1858, the American counterpart to the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Cavanagh soon became an active member of the organization serving as secretary to O’Mahoney in New York City where he would spend the civil war years organizing, initiating new members, and building the Fenian Brotherhood. He did not himself serve in the military but did help with recruitment for both the Irish Brigade and the Corcoran Legion, while also performing ceremonial duties with the Pheonix Zouaves. In the fall of 1861, Cavanagh protected by his American citizenship, was appointed by the Fenian Brotherhood as a delegate top accompany the body of Terrance Bellew McManus, a veteran of the 1848 rebellion back to Ireland for burial in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, a very successful undertaking that was instrumental in advancing the cause of Irish patriotism and independence.  

Cavanagh would relinquish his duties in the Fenian Brotherhood in the summer of 1866 following the split in the Fenian leadership over the attempted invasions of Canada and the resignation of his mentor John O’Mahoney. In the spring of 1870, he would move to Washington D.C. and enlist in the US Army as a private with duties as a security man in the War Department, a position he would maintain until his death. During the late 1870’s many of his poems both original and translated from the original Irish would appear in the Celtic Monthly and later the Celtic Magazine, Irish literary publications edited by James Haltigan. Later many of his writings and poems were published in the Worchester Massachusetts Messenger a Catholic Monthly. In March of 1891, the Messenger began to serialize his biography of his friend Thoams Meagher which was published in book form in 1892. His book Memoirs of General Thomas Francis-Meagher is what today he is best known for. Michael dedicated the book “to the young men of the Irish Race who are devoted to the principles of National Liberty which Thomas Francis Meagher so nobly inculcated and for the perpetuation of which he so bravely fought.”

A short poem accompanied the dedication: 

“Oh, brave young men, my love, my pride, and promise, Tis on you my hopes are set, in manliness, in kindliness in justice, to make Erin a nation yet.”    

Michael Cavanagh died at age 78 leaving a wife Anne and eight children. He was buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery in Washington. In recent years the Michael Cavanagh Society has erected a bronze bust of his likeness in Cappoquin, County Waterford, Ireland. (See below)  

 Contributed by John J. Haltigan