Tandy, James Napper  (1740 - 1803)

James Napper Tandy was born in the Cornmarket area of Dublin in 1740; one of three children born to James Tandy, an iron works merchant, and Maria Bella Jenkins.  Tandy received his education at the Quaker boarding school in Ballitore, Kildare. The boarding school established in 1726 by Abraham Shackleton numbered amongst its alumni Edmund Burke a  champion of Catholic emancipation and a supporter of the American independence, and  the infamous Cardinal Paul Cullen, who vehemently opposed any and all efforts by the Young Irelanders and Fenians to achieve Irish independence.

After finishing his studies Tandy worked for in the family business. He was not suited to that line of work and after a short period of time gave it up to become a land agent and rent collector. He did not fare much better at that line of work either as his real interest and passion was rooted in politics.

Tandy's political philosophy was greatly influenced by Dr Charles Lucas, a Co. Clare born political activist, who campaigned for Dublin Corporation reform, Irish legislative independence, and, later for the Republican separatism policy championed by the United Irishmen. continue

Tone, Martha Witherington  (1769 - 1849)

Born in Dublin in June of 1769, Martha Witherington Tone, the beloved wife of Theodore Wolf Tone, was a committed Irish republican who possessed a unique insight into the  politics of her time.  She endured much hardship, worry and disruption in her life due to her husband's involvement in Society of United Irishmen and his advocacy of complete political separation from England.

 Martha came from a well-to-do family who owned a drapery  business in Grafton Street in Dublin. At age sixteen she married Theodore Wolf Tone against the  wishes of her family. They had three children together before Wolfe Tone's untimely death in a Dublin  prison on the eve of his execution in November of 1798 . She had remained faithful to him during their short life together and, after his untimely death, to his memory and the cause that for which he gave his life.

Following Tone's death Martha lived  in France until she married Thomas Wilson, a close friend and confidant of Tone in 1816. Shortly after their marriage they, together with her son William, came to live in the United States.

In the end, Matilda Tone outlived both her husband, Thomas, who died  in 1824, and son, William, who died in 1828.  She passed away on March 18, 1849. --- link to biography

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