Pearse, Patrick H. (1879-1916), was an Irish educator, nationalist, and writer. Pearse is most famous for his leading role in the Easter Rising , a failed Irish rebellion against British rule in 1916. He and 15 other nationalists were shot for their part in the uprising. In Irish, a Gaelic language , Patrick is often spelled Padraic or Pádraig.
Patrick Henry Pearse was born on Nov. 10, 1879, in Dublin , the Irish capital. Patrick’s mother taught him to speak Irish. He was educated at Westland Row Christian Brothers School. The Christian Brothers is a Catholic charity that runs schools around the world. In Ireland in the late 1800’s, Christian Brothers schools stressed Irish culture and language. As a teenager, Pearse joined the Gaelic League, an organization set up to reestablish Irish as Ireland’s national language. The league also promoted Irish culture, literature, and nationalism. Pearse studied law at University College Dublin and became a teacher. In 1908, he founded an Irish language school, St. Edna’s (Scoil Éanna), near Dublin. He wrote numerous plays, poems, and stories in both Irish and English.
In 1913, Pearse joined the Irish Volunteers, a paramilitary nationalist group. He later became a top leader of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, another revolutionary group. Pearse played a major role in the Easter Rising. He served as commander of the Irish forces and was meant to be president of a new Irish government.
On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, Irish rebels took control of several important Dublin locations. Such locations included the General Post Office, which became the rebels’ headquarters. At 12:45 p.m., Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic on the post office steps. The proclamation was an attempt to declare Ireland independent. After several days, the rebels were forced to surrender, and Pearse was arrested. On May 3, Pearse was executed at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. He was buried in Arbour Hill cemetery. Pearse’s younger brother, William, was also executed for his part in the Easter Rising.
Pearse’s sacrifice and political writings—especially those written while awaiting execution—made him a hero of Irish independence. St.Edna’s School is now home to the Pearse Museum.
