PARNELL, CHARLES STEWART, an Irish statesman; born at his father's estate of Avondale, Wicklow co., Ireland, in 1846, connected on his father's side with a family that originally belonged to Congleton, Cheshire, and whose members included Parnell the Poet, and Sir John Parnell, chancellor of the exchequer in Grattan's Parliament; while his mother was the daughter of Admiral Stewart of the United States navy. He was edu cated at Magdalen College, Cambridge; became member of Parliament for Meath in 1875; organized the "active" Home Rule Party, and developed its obstruction tactics; and in 1879 formally adopted the policy of the newly formed Land League, and was chosen president of the organization. In 1880 he was returned for the city of Cork, and was chosen as leader of the Irish party. In the ses sion of 1881 he opposed the Crimes Act and the Land Act; was arrested, along with other members of his party; and was lodged in Kilmainham jail, and not released till the following May. In 1883
he was the recipient of a large money testimonial (chiefly collected in America), and was active in organizing the newly formed National League. At the gen eral election of 1885 he was re-elected for Cork, and next year he and his fol lowers supported the Home Rule pro posals introduced by Mr. Gladstone. In 1887 he and other members of his party were accused by the "Times" of com plicity with the crimes and outrages com mitted by the extreme section of the Irish Nationalist party. A commission of three judges was appointed by the government in 1888, with the result that, in February, 1890, Mr. Parnell was acquitted of all the graver charges. He died in Brighton, England, Oct. 6, 1891.