Page:A Memorial of John Boyle O'Reilly from the City of Boston.djvu/67



was born in Dowth Castle, County Meath, Ire., June 28, 1844. His father was William David O'Reilly, principal of the Netterville Institution, at Drogheda, a fine scholar, especially strong in mathematics. His mother was Eliza Boyle, a woman of rarely beautiful character and brilliant mind. Her love for Ireland became in her son the ruling passion of his life. Her fine literary tastes grew in him to the height of genius.

He received a good English education in his father's school, and at the age of fourteen went into the office of the "Drogheda Argus" as a type-setter. Later he became an expert short-hand writer, and found employment on several newspapers in England.

He entered into the Fenian movement with characteristic ardor. He told the writer of this sketch that he never fully realized the movement until he found himself in prison for his share in it. "They only said to us, 'Come, boys, it's prison or death; but it's for Ireland;' and we came."

In riper years, he enlisted with all the force, fervor, and single-heartedness of his nature on the side of