Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionist, born in Waterford, Aug. 3, 1823, drowned in the upper Missouri, near Fort Benton, Montana, July 1, 1867. He was educated at Roman Catholic colleges in Ireland and England, and studied law in Dublin, where he became the leader of the Young Ireland party. In 1846 he assisted in organizing the Irish confederation. On the overthrow of Louis Philippe in 1848, Meagher was sent at the head of a delegation to Paris to congratulate the French republican leaders. Soon after his return he was arrest ed for sedition, and released on bail, but was rearrested on a charge of high treason, found guilty, and received a sentence of death, which was commuted to transportation for life to Tasmania. From there he escaped, arrived in New York in May, 1852, and spent two years in lecturing on Irish independence in the principal cities of the United States. In 1855 he was admitted to the bar in New York, and in 1856 edited the "Irish News." In 1861 he joined the 69th New York regiment, of which he was acting major at the first battle of Bull Run. After the close of its three months' term of service he returned to New York, organized the Irish brigade, was colonel of the first regiment, and on the acceptance of the brigade was put in command and made brigadier general of volunteers, Feb. 3, 1862. He was engaged in the battles before Richmond, at Antietam, at Fredericksburg, where he was wounded', and at Ohancellorsville. In May, 1863, he resigned, but early in 1864 he was recommis-sioned and was assigned to the command of the district of the Etowah, including portions of Tennessee and Georgia, where he performed valuable services till January, 1865. After being mustered out of service he was appointed secretary of Montana territory, and in September, 1866, the governor appointed him acting governor in his absence.

Meagher was travelling to take measures to protect settlers from Indian hostilities when he fell from the deck of a steamboat and perished. He published "Speeches on the Legislative Independence of Ireland" (12mo, New York, 1853), and "Last Days of the 69th New York Regiment in Virginia " (8vo, 1861).