MEAGHER, miller, Thomas Francis, Irish-American soldier: b. Waterford, Ireland. 3 Aug. 1823; d. near Fort Benton, Mont., 1 July 1867. He was educated at the Jesuit College, Clongowes Wood, Kildare, and at Stonyhurst College (near Preston), England; became one of the principal orators of the Young Ireland party, which aimed at independence through armed revolution; in 1848 was sent on a mission by the Irish Confederation to the French pro visional government; and on 21 March was ar rested on a charge of sedition. He was bailed. but on the passage of the Treason-Felony Act rearrested; and in October sentenced to death for treason. The sentence having been com muted to life banishment, he was removed to Tasmania (9 July 1849) ; but in 1852 escaped to the United States, where he was admitted to the bar in 1856 and practised in New York a 1856-61. For some time also after 1856 he edited the Irish News of New York. In 1861 he organized a company of zouaves for the Federal army, with which he joined the 69th New York Volunteers, under command of Col.
Michael Corcoran. After three months' service, he recruited the °Irish (1861-62), and was elected colonel of the 1st regiment. On 3 Feb. 1862 he became brigadier-general and took command of the brigade. He fought bravely at Richmond, the second Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Antietam and after Chancellorsville found his command so reduced in numbers that he re signed. Early in 1864 he was reappointed briga dier-general of volunteers and was assigned to the command of the military district of He resigned 15 May 1865, was appointed secre tary of Montana Territory and in the following year acted at one time as governor pro tem. At Fort Benton, Mont., on I July 1867 he boarded a steamer for a trip down the Missouri and thereafter was never seen. It is supposed that he fell overboard unperceived during the night He wrote 'Speeches on the Legislative Inde pendence of Ireland' (1852). Consult Cava nagh 'Life, Writings and Speeches' (Worces ter, Mass., 1892).