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Cornelius Colbert
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cornelius Colbert | |
|---|---|
| 1888 – May 8, 1916 | |
| Place of birth | Athea, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Place of death | Kilmainham Jail, Dublin City, Ireland |
| Allegiance | Irish Volunteers |
| Years of service | 1913 - 1916 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | F Company |
| Battles/wars | Easter Rising |
Cornelius Colbert (1888 – May 8, 1916) was an Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Éireann. Born in Athea, County Limerick, at a young age his family moved to Dublin, and in 1913 he was an early member of the Irish Volunteers, perhaps the youngest member of its Provisional Committee. He also joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Soon after Patrick Pearse asked him to be a drill instructor for his St. Enda's School.
In 1916 Colbert took part in the Easter Rising. As captain of F company in the 4th battalion under Commandant Eamonn Ceannt he was in charge of commandeering Watkin's Brewery. When the position proved too large and strategically insignificant he moved the company to the Jameson's Distillery, where he became a de facto commandant. Following the surrender he was court-martialled and executed by firing squad on May 8.
Defiant to the end, at his execution he uttered the phrase "Better a dead man, than a live coward."
Colbert was a deeply religious Catholic, and refrained from smoking, drinking, and swearing, as well as dancing during Lent. Colbert Railway Station in Limerick City is named after him.
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Signatories of the Proclamation of the Republic (executed after the Rising) Patrick Pearse · Tom Clarke · Thomas MacDonagh · Joseph Mary Plunkett · Éamonn Ceannt · Seán Mac Diarmada · James Connolly |
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Also executed for their role in the Rising Ned Daly · Willie Pearse · Michael O'Hanrahan · John MacBride · Michael Mallin · Con Colbert · Seán Heuston · Thomas Kent · Roger Casement |
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Other Irish figures Éamon de Valera · Constance Markiewicz · The O'Rahilly · Eoin MacNeill · Eamon Bulfin · Cathal Brugha · Richard Mulcahy |
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British figures John Maxwell · Lord Wimborne · Augustine Birrell · Matthew Nathan · Lord French |