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April 4

1804
Battles

April 4, 1804

Castle Hill Convict Rebellion

On April 4, 1804, over 200 Irish convicts, led by United Irishman Philip Cunningham, escaped from the Castle Hill government farm in New South Wales, Australia. Their aim was to march on Sydney, capture ships, and sail back to Ireland. Cunningham was elected 'King of the Australian Empire' by his followers, who declared the area 'New Ireland'. However, the rebellion was swiftly suppressed by Major George Johnston's forces. After a brief skirmish, dubbed the 'second Battle of Vinegar Hill', many rebels were arrested, and Cunningham and eight others were hanged.

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1878
Other

April 4, 1878

Murder of the 3rd Earl of Leitrim

On April 4, 1878, William Sydney Clements, the 3rd Earl of Leitrim, was murdered in an ambush while traveling from Manorvaughan to Milford, County Donegal. Known for his harsh treatment of tenants, including evictions and exploitation, Clements was a deeply unpopular landlord who actively sought to undermine the Ulster custom of tenant right. His driver and clerk were killed instantly, and the Earl himself was fatally wounded by gunshots and blows from a musket butt. Despite a substantial reward offered for information, his assassins, believed to be Ribbonmen and Fenians, were never brought to justice, highlighting the deep agrarian unrest of the period.

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1900
Other

April 4, 1900

Queen Victoria's Final Visit to Ireland

On April 4, 1900, Queen Victoria arrived in Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) for her last visit to Ireland. The 80-year-old monarch, nearly blind, embarked on what was dubbed the 'Boer War Tour' to thank Irish soldiers for their service. She was greeted by large crowds and a royal procession, with many Irish citizens, including some nationalists, cheering her arrival. This visit, lasting until April 26, was her fourth and final trip to the country, occurring less than a year before her death. It was a significant event reflecting the complex relationship between the British monarchy and Ireland at the turn of the 20th century.

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