In the Young Irish Disorders, in Ireland 1848, the following nine men were captured, tried and convicted of treason against Her Majesty, the Queen, and were sentenced to death:John Mitchell,Morris Lynne,Pat Donahue,Thomas McGee,Charles Duffy, Thomas Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, Terrence McManus and Michael Ireland.

Before passing sentence, the judge asked if there was anything that anyone wished to say. Meagher, speaking for all, said: "My Lord, this is our first offense but not our last. If you will be easy with us this once, we promise, on our word as gentlemen, to try to do better next time. And next time--sure we won't be fools to get caught.

Thereupon the indignant judge sentenced them all to be hanged by the neck until dead and drawn and quartered. Passionate protest from all the world forced Queen Victoria to commute the sentence to transportation for life to far wild Australia.

In 1874, word reached the astounded Queen Victoria that the Sir Charles Duffy who had been elected Prime Minister of Australia was the same Charles Duffy who had been transported 25years before. On the Queen's demand, the records of the rest of the transported men were revealed and this is what was uncovered:

Thomas Francis Meagher...........Governor of Montana
Terrence McManus...................Brigadier General, US Army
Patrick Donahue....................Brigadier General, US Army
Richard O'Gorman...................Governor General of Newfoundland

Morris Lyene.....................Attorney General of Australia
Michael Ireland..................succeeded Morris Lyene as Attorney General of Australia.
Thomas D'Arcy McGee..............member of Parliment,Montreal, Minister of Agriculture and President of Council Dominion of Canada.
John Mitchell....................Prominent New York politician. This man was the father of John Purroy Mitchell, Mayor of New York at the outbreak of World War I.