John Francis Maguire (1815 – 1 November 1872) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

writer and politician. He was elected as

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(MP) for

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in 1852. He was subsequently an MP for

Cork City Cork ( , from , meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in Ireland and third largest city by population on the island of Ireland. It is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city' ...

, serving between 1865 and his death in 1872. He wrote for his Newspaper, the

Cork Examiner The ''Irish Examiner'', formerly ''The Cork Examiner'' and then ''The Examiner'', is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country. ...

and wrote several books, including "The Irish in America" in 1867. He actively supported the Liberal Party's legislation on the disestablishment of the Church as well as the land question. Then in 1870, John Maguire joined the Home Rule party for Ireland. On 1 May 1872, Maguire responded to

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, in a debate over the Women's Disabilities Removal Bill, an early women's suffrage bill. Scourfield had argued that

Jane Austen Jane Austen (; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots of ...

would be against women's suffrage, but Maguire responded that he thought she would be for it, because, were she alive, she would have allied herself with the deepest thinkers and most brilliant writers of the day, who supported it. This is believed to have been the first debate over Austen in official parliamentary business. Maguire made many contributions to political debate. His book "The Irish in America" covered such topics as their views towards slavery, the troubles they found once arriving in America, the overcrowding of immigrants within the large cities and the poverty they became accustomed to. There were other parts of this book that were not directly related to those subjects, but that of the actual passage and perils on the seas that those travelling experienced. He was interested in explicitly educating his Irish readership, bringing attention to the reasons for committing crime, and pointing out some of the positive traits the Irish brought with them, such as a love for life, a strong sense of loyalty, and a strong work ethic. He also had a sincere concern about the drinking problem among the Irish. In 1843 he married Margaret Bailey, second daughter of Robert Bailey of

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, Cork, and sister-in-law of

Sir Edward Sullivan, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Sullivan, 1st Baronet, PC (Ire) (10 July 1822 – 13 April 1885) was an Irish lawyer, and a Liberal Member of Parliament for Mallow, 1865–1870 in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was also ...

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. They had seven children.

References

* * Maguire, John Francis. The Irish in America, 4th Edition. New York: D. & J. Sadlier & Company, 1867.

External links

*
Brief biography at LibraryIreland.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maguire, John Francis 1815 births 1872 deaths UK MPs 1865–1868 UK MPs 1868–1874 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Cork City Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Waterford constituencies (1801–1922)