R.F.Foster UNB UA 938.f67 1988
Chronology
1600 Jan. O'Neill makes tour of Munster.
21 Jan. Mountjoy appointed Lord Deputy.
Sept./Oct. Battle at Moyry Pass.
1601 21 Sept. Spaniards arrive at Kinsale.
24 Dec. Battle of Kinsale.
1602 Sept. Mountjoy breaks O'Neill coronation-stone at Tullahogue.
1603 30 Mar. O'Neill pardoned in return for surrender at Mellifont.
1606 22 July Commission for remedying defective land-titles.
1607 4 Sept. O'Neill and others leave Ireland for the Continent (`flight of the
earls': see above, pp. 43-5).
Dec. Donegal and Tyrone lands declared forfeit.
1608 18 Apr. Revolt of Sir Cahir O'Doherty.
19 July Commission to survey six Ulster counties.
1610 Apr. -May Ulster land assigned to British undertakers.
1613 18 May Opening of parliament at Dublin.
1621 20 Jan. Patents granted for plantations in Leitrim, King's County,
Queen's County, Westmeath .
1625 27 Mar. Accession of Charles I.
1626 22 Sept. Charles offers twenty-six 'Graces' to the Irish (see above pp 53-5) .
1628 24 May Fifty-one 'Graces' granted in return for financial subsidy
1633 25 July Wentworth (later Strafford) sworn in as Lord Deputy.
1635 July Crown title confirmed over land in Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo
(and in Galway, after resistance, Dec. 1636).
1639 21 May Wentworth's'Black Oath' of loyalty imposed on Ulster Scots
(see above, p. 82).
1640 Aug. War begins in Scotland.
1641 12 May Wentworth executed.
9 June Patrick Darcy argues that Irish parliament possesses independent
authority (see above, pp. 8e5).
22-3 Oct. Outbreak of Ulster rebellion.
Dec. Old English join the rebels.
1642 19 Mar. 'Adventurers' Act' offers Irish land in return for subsidies
15 Apr. Monro's army arrives from Scotland.
10-13 May First meetings of Catholic leaders in Kilkenny.
8-9 July Arrival of Owen Roe O'Neill.
Oct. Confederates assemble at Kilkenny.
1643 Sept. Truce between Ormond (for the royalists) and Confederates
13 Nov. Ormond appointed Lord Lieutenant.
1644 2 July Royalist defeat at Marston Moor.
1645 14 June Royalist defeat at Naseby.
25 Aug. Glamorgan (for the King) makes secret treaty with Confederates.
12 Oct. Arrival of Rinuccini in Ireland (reaches Kilkenny, 12 Nov.)
1646 28 Mar. Peace between Confederates and Ormond (formally proclaimed, July- Aug.).
5 June Battle at Benburb.
12 Aug. Rinuccini condemns Ormond peace; Waterford Synod (1 Sept.) excommunicates adherents to peace terms.
1647 7 June Jones lands wieh parliamentary force at Dublin.
19 June. Ormond surrenders Dublin.
1648 20 May Truce between Confederates and Inchiquin (adherents excom-
municated by Rinuccini, 27 May) .
1649 17 Jan. Ormond and Confederates sign peace treaty.
30 Jan. Execution of Charles.
23 Feb. Rinuccini returns to Rome.
2 Aug. Ormond defeated by parliamentarians at Rathmines.
15 Aug. Oliver Cromwell arrives at Dublin, as civil and military
Governor of Ireland.
ll Sept. Massacre at Drogheda.
ll Oct. Massacre at Wlexford.
20 Oct. Owen Roe O'Neill and Ormond combine.
6 Nov. Death of Owen Roe O'Neill.
1650 27 Mar. Kilkenny surrenders to Cromwell.
26 May Cromwell returns to England, Ireton taking over.
11 Dec. Ormond leaves for France.
1652 12 Aug. 'Act for the Settling ofIreland' (see above, pp. 109-10).
1653 June-Sept. Survey and alocation of forfeited Irish lands, followed by
arrangements for transplantation ('Act of Satisfaction', 26 Sept.)
16 Dec. Cromwell Lord Protector.
1657 9 June Settlement Act 'for the Assuming, Confirming and Settling of
Lands and Estates in Ireland'.
26 June 'Act for Convicting, Discovering and Repressing of Popish
Recusants' .
1660 Feb. Parliament restored in Dublin.
14 May Charles II proclaimed King.
1662 19 May Act forbidding export of Irish wool.
31 July Act of Settlement, confirming some adventurers' landowning
rights but also allowing claims from 'innocents' and royalist supporters
(Court of Claims opened, 20 Sept.; last sitting, Jan.1669; see above pp.
115-16).
1663 27 July 'Cattle Act' restricting Irish trade with colonies and cattle export
to England (see above, pp. 128-9).
1667 18 Jan. Cattle exports to England prohibited (see above, p. 128).
1671 18 Jan. Catholic gentry present petition to Charles .
22 Apr. Direct importation from colonies prohibited.
1672 Oct. Regium donum grant to Presbyterian Church initiated.
Abandonment of presidency system (see above, pp. 138-9) .
1678 28 Sept. Popish Plot alleged, followed by renewed proclamations against
Catholic clergy and schools.
1679 6 Dec. Arrest of Oliver Plunkett (executed, 1 July 1681).
1684 Jan Foundation of Dublin Philosophical Society.
1685 6 Feb. Accession ofJames II.
1686 22 Mar. Payments to Catholic hierarchy authorized.
5 June Tyrconnell arrives as Commander-in-Chief of Irish arm).
1687 12 Feb. Tyrconnell sworn in as Lord Deputy.
]688 10lune Birth ofJames, royal heir.
5 Nov. William of Orange arrives in England.
23 Dec. James flees to France.
1689 12 Mar. James arrives in Ireland.
18 Apr. Siege of Derry begins.
7 May- 18 July Parliament at Dublin; passes (late June) Act of Attainder
(see above, pp. 145-6).
22 June Act for repeal of land settlement.
31 July Siege of Derry lifted (first relieved, 28 July) .
1690 14 June William arrives in Ireland.
1 July James defeated at River Boyne.
4 July James flees to France.
5 Sept. William leaves Ireland, after failing to capture Limerick.
Sept.-Oct. Munster surrenders to Marlborough.
1691 9 May Saint-Ruth arrives from France.
7 July Ginkel's proclamation offering pardon and security of property to opponents.
12 July Battle of Aughrim.
3 Oct. Treaty of Limerick, allowing evacuation ofIrish army to France
and promising toleration to Irish Catholics (see above, pp. 151-2)
1695 7 Sept. 'Penal Laws': Acts restricting rights of Catholics to education,
to bear arms or to possess a horse worth more than five pounds
(reinforced, 31 Mar. 1740).
1696 27 Apr. Act 'for encouraging the linen manufacture ofIreland'.
1697 25 Sept. Catholic clergy banished by Act of Parliament.
1698 27 June Westminster Parliament condemns Molyneux's "Case of Ireland
being Bound by Acts of Parliament in England Stated" (see abovc, pp 161-2).
1699 Jan.-May Acts (in Irish and English parliaments) restricting Irish woollen
exports.
1702 8 Mar. Accession of Anne.
1704 4 Mar. Further Penal Law 'to prevent further growth ofpopery restricts
landholding rights for Catholics and imposes 'tests' for public office
holding; amended and strengthened, 30 Aug. 1708 (see above, p 154
1713 13 June Swift becomes Dean of St Patrick's (dies, 19 Oct. 1745).
1714 1 Aug. Accession of George I.
1719 2 Nov. Toleration Act for Protestant Dissenters.
1720 7 Apr. 'Declaratory Act' defines right of British Parliament to legislate
for Ireland, and denies appellate jurisdiction of Irish House of Lords
1724 Feb.-Oct. Swift's Drapier's Letters, attacking copper coinage patent
granted to William Wood (12 July) .
1727 11 June Accession of George II.
1728 6 May Act removing franchise from Catholics (see above, p. 206
1750 2 Apr. Foundation of Dublin Society for Promoting Husbandry and
Other Useful Arts (from 1820, Royal Dublin Society).
1753 Dec. Money Bill crisis (see above, p. 237).
1758 29 Apr. Appointment of Wide Streets Commission (see above,
1760 21 Feb. Thurot lands French force at Carrickfergus in Belfast Lough
Mar. First meetings of Catholic Committee.
25 Oct. Accession of George III.
1767 14 Oct. Beginning of Townshend viceroyalty (recalled, 30 Nov.
1772).
1768 16 Feb. Octennial Act (Irish parliament's life limited to eight years).
1772 2 June Act allowing Catholics to lease bogland.
1774 22 June 'Quebec Act' grants Canadian Catholics religious and civil rights.
1778 Apr. John Paul Jones raids Belfast Lough.
Volunteering movement begins to spread from Ulster.
14 Aug. Catholic Relief Act granting rights ofleasing and inheritance.
1774, 4 Nov. Volunteers' demonstration in favour of 'free trade' (see above pp. 243, 245).
1780 24 Feb. Act opening colonial trade to Irish goods.
2 May Act repealing tests imposed on Dissenters.
1782 15 Feb. Dungannon convention of Volunteers calls for legislative
independence.
27 Mar. Rockingham forms government (Duke of Portland Irish Lord
Lieutenant).
4 May Catholic Relief Act allows Catholics to own land outside
parliamentary boroughs (Dissenters also allowed valid marriage
ceremonies) .
21 June Declaratory Act repealed.
27 July Poynings' Law (see p. 23 above) amended .
Relief Act gives Catholics education rights.
1783 29 Nov. Parliamentary reform (at Volunteers' behest) rejected by
College Green (see above, pp. 255-6).
1784 14 May Foster's Corn Law (sliding scale for export subsidies, varying
with domestic prices).
1785 3 May First meeting ofIrish Academy (Royal Irish Academy from 28
Jan. 1786) .
12 Aug. Bill to regulate Anglo-Irish trade, adapted from Pitt's original:
free trade proposals after British protests, introduced at College Green
but later abandoned.
1791 Aug. Wolfe Tone's Argument on Behalf of the Catholics oflreland.
14 Oct. Foundation of United Irishmen in Belfast (Northern Star appears
4 Jan. 1792) .
9 Nov. First meeting of Dublin United Irishmen.
1792 1 8 Apr. Catholic Relief Act allows Catholics to practise law.
25 July Tone appointed Secretary to Catholic Committee.
1793 2 Jan. Catholic petition presented to King.
Feb.-Mar. Legislation restricting movement of arms and suppressing
Volunteering.
9 Apr. Relief Act granting Catholics parliamentary franchise and
civil and military rights.
Act establishing Irish Militia (afforced, 15 Apr. 1795).
1 Oct. St Patrick's [Catholic] College, Carlow, opened.
1794 1 Mar. Catholics statutorily enabled to attend Trinity College, Dublin
23 May Suppression of Dublin United Irishmen.
1795 4 Jan. Earl Fitzwilliam becomes Irish Lord Lieutenant.
23 Feb. Fitzwilliam dismissed.
10 May Belfast United Irishmen, meeting underground, adopt new
constitution .
5 June Act providing for establishment of Catholic seminary (opened at
Royal College of St Patrick at Maynooth, October) .
13 June Tone leaves for America.
21 Sept. 'Battle of the Diamond' (Loughgall, County Armagh),leading
to foundation of Orange Order.
1796 1 Feb. Tone arrives in France.
24 Mar. Insurrection Act (curfews, arms searches, death penalty for oath
taking) .
16 Sept. Arrest of Belfast United Irish leaders.
26 Oct. Habeas Corpus suspended.
Development ofYeomanry corps under commissioned officers.
22-7 Dec French fleet, with Tone, in Bantry Bay.
1798 26 Feb. Abercromby, Commander-in-Chiefin Ireland, condemns state
of army.
12 Mar. Arrest of Dublin United Irish leaders (Lord Edward Fitzgerald
19 May).
30 Mar. Martial law imposed.
23-4 May Rebellion begins in Leinster, taking hold in Wexford
Wexford town captured by rebels, 30 May; rebels defeated at New
Ross, 5 June.
6-13 June Outbreaks in Ulster.
21 June Defeat of Wexford rebels at Vinegar Hill.
22 Aug. French force under Humbert lands at Killala; humiliates govern
ment forces at 'Races of Castlebar', 27 Aug., surrenders at Ballinamuck 8 Sept.
3 Nov. Tone arrested after arriving in Lough Swilly with another French
force; suicide in prison, 19 Nov.
1799 31 Jan. Pitt's speech at Westminster advocating the Union between
Britain and Ireland.
25 Mar. Trials by courts martial established (until 1805).
1800 21 May Bill for Union introduced at College Green.
1 Aug. Irish Act of Union.
2 Aug. Last meeting of College Green parliament.
1801 1 Jan. Act of Union takes effect.
3 Feb. Pitt resigns as PM over royal veto on Catholic emancipation
(returns, 10 May 1804).
1803 23 July Abortive rising by Robert Emmet (executed, 20 Sept.).
1810 20 June Unlawful Oaths Act extends powers against secret societies
(reinforced 1823, 1839) .
1813 l2July First recorded 'Twelfth ofJuly' sectarian riots in Belfast.
1804 25 July Peace Preservation Act, policing disturbed areas by local rate
charge.
1805 6 July 'Bianconi car' passenger service opens.
1820 29 Jan. Accession of George IV.
1822 1 Aug. Irish Constabulary Act sets up county police forces and salaried
magistracy.
1823 12 May Foundation of Catholic Association.
1824 12 Apr. Act establishing free trade between Britain and Ireland in manu
factured articles.
1825 18 Mar. Catholic Association dissolved in accordance with Unlawful
Societies Act (9 Mar.); reconstituted, 13 July.
18 May Lords reject Catholic Emancipation Bill (which would
disenfranchise Irish forty-shilling freeholders and put clergy on state
salaries.
14 Nov. Catholic pro-cathedral opened in Marlborough St, Dublin
1826 19-29, June Catholic electors reject Lord George Beresford in Waterford
election.
1828 5 July Daniel O'Connell elected M P for Clare.
14 Aug. Foundation of Brunswick Clubs (see abovc, p. 304).
1829 1 3 Apr. Catholic Emancipation Act enables Catholics to enter Par:
and hold civil and military offices.
Forty-shilling freeholders disenfranchised by Irish Parliamcntary Elections
Act (raising county franchise to ten pounds).
1830 26 June Accession of William IV.
1831 9 Sept. &30,000 voted to set up 'national' system of elemcntary education
in Ireland.
1832 7 Aug. Irish Reform Bill increases seats from 100 to 105 and introduces
ten-pound franchise in boroughs.
16 Aug. Irish Tithe Composition Act allows for comnnuting tithe payments
1833 14 Aug. Irish Church Temporalities Act rationalizes Church of Ireland
organization, abolishing ten bishoprics.
1834 22 Apr. O'Connell introduces debate on Repeal of the Union.
1835 18 Feb. Alliance between O'Connellites, Whigs and Radicals agreed at
Lichfield House.
25 July Thomas Drummond Under-Secretary (until 15 Apr. 18 1840
1836 20 May Irish Constabulary Act further extends centralized police force
and salaried magistracy.
1837 20 June Accession of Victoria.
1838 10 Apr. Father Mathew founds abstinence movement.
31 July Irish Poor Law extends English system to Ireland.
1840 15 Apr. Repeal Association founded.
10 Aug. Irish Municipal Reform Act (see above, p. 310).
1841 Mar.-Apr. Foundation of Dublin Protestant Operative Association (see
above, p. 304).
6 June Census: population, 8,175,124.
1842 15 Oct. First number of the Nation.
1843 7 Oct. Prohibition and cancellation of 'monster' Repeal meeting at
Clontarf.