Browse all events for June 21.
Black Thursday
On a day that will long be remembered as Black Thursday, four members of the Molly Maguires — Alexander Campbell, John Donohue, Michael Doyle, and Edward Kelly — shackled with chains, walk to the gallows specially constructed to accommodate four people; their execution sends shockwaves through Irish-American communities.
Charles Davis Lucas first recipient of the Victoria Cross
Charles Davis Lucas, born in Drumagole, County Armagh, performs a remarkable act of bravery at the age of 20 during the Crimean War. Serving as a mate in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Hecla, Lucas picks up a live Russian shell—its fuse still burning—that has landed on the deck of the ship, and throws it overboard, saving the vessel and its crew from certain destruction.
The Rebels are defeated at Vinegar Hill
The United Irishmen rebels suffer a major defeat at the Battle of Vinegar Hill, a pivotal engagement during the 1798 Rebellion. Despite being surrounded by government forces, two rebel columns manage to escape the encirclement: - The southern column retreats and camps at Sleedagh Demesne. - The northern column moves toward Peppard’s Castle.
The Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act of 1720, which had asserted Britain’s right to legislate for Ireland and denied the Irish House of Lords its appellate authority, was repealed. This marked a significant moment in Irish legislative history, restoring a measure of autonomy to the Irish Parliament during the period of Grattan’s Parliament.