The E-Sylum:  Volume 4, Number 22, May 27, 2001, Article 8

WOLFE TONE 

   [E-Sylum subscribers can be counted on to know just 
   about anything.  Saul Tiechman's question regarding the 
   "Wolfe Tone"  pattern impression found in the Charles 
   Barber papers triggered several great responses, plus 
   a possible lead for more information. Me, I thought 
   "Wolfe Tone" was a rap singer...  -Editor] 

   Harold Welch  writes: "Wolfe Tone (1763-1798) was 
   an Irish lawyer who was an original founder of the United 
   Irishmen, a group dedicated to leading an Irish uprising 
   against the British.  Tone was a disciple of Thomas Paine 
   and a friend of James Madison (who was serving as 
   American Minister to France).  Tone was in France trying 
   to persuade the French Government to invade Ireland, 
   assuring them that an invasion would be accompanied by 
   a general uprising of the Irish people against the hated English. 

   Eventually, an invasion fleet of 143 sail and 15,000 men was 
   dispatched accompanied by Tone as "Adjutant-general Smith." 
   Bad weather and poor seamanship led to the dispersal of the 
   fleet before it ever landed.  Despite Tone's efforts, the French 
   would never commit to anything further than a few minor raids. 
   Tone was captured on one of these raids and sentenced to 
   hanging.  On the day before he was scheduled to be executed 
   he cut his throat with a penknife and died of the wound a few 
   days later, November 19, 1798. 

   I have no knowledge of the medal in question or what interest 
   Charles Barber may have had in Wolfe Tone." 

   David Fanning writes: "Theobald Wolfe Tone is the founder 
   of modern Irish Republicanism.  He led the United Irishmen, a 
   non-sectarian movement which was devoted to driving the 
   British out of Ireland.  He was a Protestant, as were a number 
   of other leaders of the movement, giving the lie to the British 
   notion that the conflict is all about religion.  The Uprising they 
   led in 1798 was unsuccessful, and Tone and the other leaders 
   were condemned to death.  Tone took his own life in prison 
   under very weird circumstances--some believe he was 
   murdered.  All that said, I don't know anything about the 
   pattern trial." 

   David Lange writes: "Stylistically, the piece illustrated does 
   appear to be the work of Charles Barber.  The proportional 
   size of the busts to the borders indicate that it was a pattern 
   gold dollar or a token of similar size. The date 1798 suggests 
   that it may have been intended as a commemorative piece to 
   be issued in 1898. A check of the Congressional Record for 
   1897-98 might turn up some clues." 

   Finally, NBS Board member Bob Metzger adds these 
   web references:   "There's  some background info on 
   Wolfe Tone at  http://www.uhb.fr/langues/cei/tone.htm 

   You can buy a miniature of him at: 
   http://www.iol.ie/mithril/princeaugust/ihs7/ 

   He also appears on an Irish postage stamp: 
   http://www.whytes.ie/0897.jpg" 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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