Thomas Henry Burke (civil servant)
Irish civil servant (1829–1882) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Burke (29 May 1829 – 6 May 1882) was an Irish civil servant who served as Permanent Under Secretary at the Irish Office for many years before being assassinated during the Phoenix Park Murders on Saturday 6 May 1882. The assassination was carried out by an Irish republican organisation known as the Irish National Invincibles.
Thomas H. Burke | |
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Under-Secretary for Ireland | |
In office 1869 (1869)–1882 (1882) | |
Preceded by | Sir Edward Robert Wetherall |
Succeeded by | Robert George Crookshank Hamilton |
Personal details | |
Born | Thomas Henry Burke (1829-05-29)29 May 1829 |
Died | 6 May 1882(1882-05-06) (aged 52) Phoenix Park, Dublin |
Resting place | Prospect Cemetery, Glasnevin |
Nationality | Irish |
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Occupation | Civil Servant |
Known for | Phoenix Park Murders |
The newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, Lord Frederick Cavendish, although not the intended victim, was assassinated alongside him while they walked through Phoenix Park in Dublin. The victims were stabbed in the neck and chest with surgical blades.
Burke was the Invincibles' intended target because he had been working for the Dublin Castle administration as head of the Civil Service for many years and was a supporter of the Irish Coercion Acts during the Land War.[1] Irish nationalists referred to Burke as the "Castle rat".