← The Theatre Royal in Dublin opens
John Paul Jones, died →- January 1, 1
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 laboring classes.
A highly charismatic figure, O’Connor was admired for his energy and oratory, but was criticized for alleged egotism.
Northern Star
His newspaper Northern Star (1837–1852) was widely read among workers (and read aloud in taverns), becoming the voice of the Chartist movement.
After the failure of his Land Plan, O’Connor’s behavior 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.