1775-1847. Irish politician, called `the
Liberator'. In 1823 he founded the Catholic
Association to press Roman Catholic claims.
Although ineligible, as a Roman Catholic, to
take his seat, he was elected member of
Parliament for County Clare 1828 and so
forced the government to grant Catholic
emancipation. In Parliament he cooperated
with the Whigs in the hope of obtaining
concessions until 1841, when he launched his
campaign for repeal of the union. His
reserved and vacillating leadership and
conservative outlook on social questions
alienated his most active supporters, who
broke away and formed the nationalist Young
Ireland movement.