The Irish Rebellions of 1798 and the Wexford War

As the ideals of the French Revolution filtered through Europe, they helped inspire a group of Irishmen who took the name The Society for United Irishmen. Devoted to the cause of equality for all Irish, whether Catholic, Anglican, or Presbyterian, they were originally a political organization. However, when full Catholic emancipation proved more than the government would allow, they turn to conspiracy. Although most of the leaders of the movement were apprehended before their planned rebellion began, the rising happened anyway. Spurred on by the especially harsh and brutal reprisals by British and British recruited troops, the rebellion quickly spread. The rebellion reached its height in Country Wexford, where an army of 20,000 pike-armed Irishmen took the town of Wexford, and held it until a strong British army arrived and took it back.

Lord Cornwallis and Lord Castlereagh

After the major battle at Wexford, the British Prime Minister assigned Lord Cornwallis as the new British Viceroy in Ireland, with Lord Castlereagh as chief Secretary, with orders to end the rebellion and bring about a Union of the two nations. Cornwallis quickly ended the remaining insurgency by offer a general amnesty and then defeating a small French invasion force. Then he and Castlereagh turned their efforts toward the Act of Union.