Events for March 13

March 13, 1865

Patrick Nally, born in Balla, Co Mayo

Patrick Nally was born on March 17, 1857, in Balla, County Mayo, Ireland, not 1865. He was a key figure in the Irish nationalist movement, particularly known for his involvement in both the Land League and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), an organization dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish republic.

March 13, 1937

Blitz of Clydebank by German Luftwaffe

The Blitz of Clydebank was a devastating Luftwaffe air raid on the town of Clydebank, near Glasgow, Scotland. It occurred over two nights, on March 13th and 14th, 1941, during World War II. Clydebank was a significant target due to its industrial importance; the town was home to shipbuilding yards (including John Brown & Company, which built many famous ships such as the RMS Queen Mary, RMS Queen Elizabeth, and the Royal Navy’s HMS Hood) and the Singer Sewing Machine Factory, which at the time was converted to produce munitions.

March 13, 1784

Reform Bill in Irish House of Commons

The Reform Bill discussed in the Irish House of Commons in 1784 was part of a wider movement for parliamentary reform in both Ireland and Great Britain during the late 18th century. The context for this bill and similar reform efforts was a period of significant political and intellectual ferment, with the American Revolution having recently concluded and the early rumblings of what would become the French Revolution starting to be felt.

March 13, 1708

French fleet abandons attempted Jacobite invasion of Scotland

On March 13, 1708, the French fleet, which had intended to launch a Jacobite invasion of Scotland to restore James Francis Edward Stuart (the “Old Pretender”) to the British throne, abandoned its attempt. This failure was a significant setback for the Jacobite cause, which sought to reclaim the throne after James II of England (and VII of Scotland) was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.