John Francis Maguire (1815 – 1 November 1872) was an Irish 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, serving between 1865 and his death in 1872. He wrote for his Newspaper, the Cork Examiner 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 Conservative MP

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

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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

Passage West Passage West (locally known as "Passage"; ) is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour, some 10 km south-east of Cork city. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets. Passage West was ...

, Cork, and sister-in-law of Sir Edward Sullivan, 1st Baronet,

Lord Chancellor of Ireland The Lord High Chancellor of Ireland (commonly known as Lord Chancellor of Ireland) was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801, it was also the highest political office of ...

. 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)