Death of Michael Davitt, Father of the Irish Land League.

Death of Michael Davitt, founder of the Irish National Land League, occurs on May 30, 1906. Born in County Mayo in 1846, at the height of the Great Famine, Davitt’s early life was shaped by hardship. At the age of four, his family was evicted from their home, prompting emigration to England, where they settled in Lancashire.

Davitt lost his right arm in a mill accident as a child, but went on to become a skilled activist and orator. He joined the Fenians (Irish Republican Brotherhood) in 1865, later serving as Organizing Secretary. Arrested in 1870 for arms smuggling, he spent seven years in prison, an experience that deepened his commitment to social justice.

In 1879, Davitt founded the Irish National Land League, advocating for tenant rights, land reform, and an end to landlordism in Ireland. Though he supported peaceful methods, the Land War included both agitation and unrest. Davitt later served as an MP and remained a tireless voice for the poor, laborers, and Irish independence.