Feargus O'Connor

Feargus O'Connor
Member of Parliament for Nottingham
In office 1847–1852
Member of Parliament for County Cork
In office 1832–1835
Personal details
Born	18 July 1796 near Castletown-Kinneigh, Ireland
Died	30 August 1855 (aged 59) 18 Albert Terrace, Notting Hill Gate, London, England
Political party	Repeal

Feargus Edward O'Connor (18 July 1796 – 30 August 1855) was an Irish Chartist leader and advocate of the Land Plan, which sought to provide smallholdings for the labouring classes. A highly charismatic figure, O'Connor was admired for his energy and oratory, but was criticised for alleged egotism. His newspaper Northern Star (1837–1852) was widely read among workers (and read aloud in taverns), becoming the voice of the Chartist movement.^[1]

After the failure of his Land Plan, O'Connor's behaviour became increasingly erratic, culminating in an assault on three MPs and a mental breakdown, from which he did not recover. After his death three years later at the age of 59, 40,000 people witnessed the funeral procession.