Hugh Francis Brophy

Hugh Francis Brophy

Hugh Francis Brophy photographed in Mountjoy Prison in 1866
Born 1829
Ireland
Died June 11, 1919
Melbourne, Australia
Nationality Irish
Occupation Builder

Hugh Francis Brophy (1829 - June 11, 1919) was a leading Fenian and staunch supporter of Irish independence. He was convicted for his part in a plot to overthrow the perceived tyranny of the British and was sentenced to penal servitude. This sentence was later commuted to transportation to Australia.

Early life

Brophy was likely born in Maryborough,[1] now Port Laoise, the main city of what was then Queens County, now County Laois, Ireland. He was the son of Thomas Brophy and Bridget Traynor.

Introduction to Fenianism

Brophy became more involved in the Fenian movement after he was introduced to the fenian leader Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa.

Conviction and transportation

Brophy was convicted at the Dublin Assizes and sentenced to ten years penal servitude. He spent some time in the Richmond (Bridewell) and Grangegorman remand prisons as well as Kilmainham Gaol,[1] along with O'Donovan. The sentence of treason and felony was subsequently commuted to transportation to a penal colony in Western Australia. In October, 1867, along with more than 60[2] other Fenians, including O’Donovan, Cornelius O’Mahony and Joseph Nunan he set sail on board the Hougoumont. This ship was to be the last to transport convicts to Australia.[3] The voyage was a relatively peaceful one, monotony being one of the major concerns, and the ship docked at Fremantle on January 9, 1868.

Hugh Francis Brophy's gravestone

Life in Australia

Following his pardon in 1869 Brophy remained in Western Australia and was involved in the building of the first bridge across the Swan River (Western Australia) and went into partnership with Joseph Nunan.

Later life

In April 1873, after moving to Victoria the previous year, Brophy married Margaret Freaney at the old St Mary's church in West Melbourne. They established their home in Carlton North and Brophy found work at his old trade. Together they had several children; Thomas, Bernard, Frank, Joseph, Michael, Sarah Ann and John, who died in infancy. Hugh Brophy continued his work in the building and construction industry and acted as the Clerk of Works during the construction of the new St Marys church around 1900.

Brophy became a member of several groups including the United Irish League and the Melbourne Celtic Club. He went on to become one of the founders of the Irish National League in Melbourne and supporter of the local Irish community before his death in 1919 aged 90 years.[4] A fine monument of local stone was erected over his grave in the Melbourne General Cemetery which now includes other family members.

References

  1. 1 2 Ireland Prison Registers, 1790-1924. (webpage) Retrieved on 2 July 2015 from https://familysearch.org/search/collection/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3A%22Hugh%20Francis%22~%20%2Bsurname%3ABrophy~&collection_id=2043780
  2. REPLY TO THE MEMORIAL. (1868, January 15). The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901), p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69385020
  3. Lawrie, Tom (2011). On this day; Australia’s last convict ship docks. In Australian Geographic, December 2011. Retrieved on June 20, 2015 from http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2011/12/on-this-day-australias-last-convict-ship-docks/
  4. DEATH OF A NOTED FENIAN. (1919, June 17). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1479473

External links

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