Davitt, Michael (1846-1906)

Irish nationalist. He joined the Fenians (forerunners of the Irish Republican Army) in 1865, and was imprisoned for treason 1870-77. After his release, he and the politician Charles Parnell founded the Land League in 1879. Davitt was jailed several times for land-reform agitation. He was a member of Parliament 1895-99, advocating the reconciliation of extreme and constitutional nationalism.

Davitt was born in County Mayo. When he was five years old, his father was evicted from his home and emigrated to England. At the age of 10, in 1856, he began work in a Lancashire cotton mill, but the following year a machinery accident resulted in the loss of his right arm. He first stood for Parliament in 1882, and was elected the Nationalist member for Meath, but as a convict was disqualified from taking his seat. He was one of the respondents before the Parnell Commission (1888-90), and spoke for five days in his defence.