Michael Collins (Jr.) was born October 16, 1890 in Cork, Ireland. He had the influence of Irish nationalism and independence around him from the time of his birth. His father, Michael John Collins, had been involved in many of the republican movements. He passed away when Michael Jr. was only six years old. On his death bed, he told his family to take care of Michael because, "One day he'll be a great man. He'll do great work for Ireland," (Wikipedia.com). His father's words would later be proven true. Collins' further inspiration came from James Santry, a blacksmith, and Denis Lyon, the headmaster of Lisaviard National School. They both were big Irish nationalists.
Collins became involved in the republican movements and joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) at nineteen years old. Being involved with this organization led to being a leader in the Easter Rising on Easter Monday, 1916. The Irish nationalists rebelled in Dublin against British rule with a large frontal assault. The rising failed to earn them independence though, and most participants were imprisoned and many leaders were executed. Public outcry ended these executions though, so Collins avoided a firing squad. When he came out, he immediately began to make his way to the top (see Titles and Accomplishments). He eventually became the head of intelligence in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This position is really what brought Ireland and England to negotiations. Collins made a brilliant intelligence program. He put his own spies in the Dublin Castle, which was the heart of British rule in Ireland. With this measurement, he always stayed one step ahead of the British. This was thwarting the British spy network largely, but it was really damaged when Collins organized Bloody Sunday and eliminated a number of their most effective detectives. The Black and Tans, who were brutal men the British enlisted, responded with the Siege of Tralee, which made the British control in Ireland hopeless. England had no other choice than compromising with Ireland.
So December 6, 1921 the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed by Ireland and Britain. It allowed for and Irish Free State. But it also said that Ireland was still under the British Empire. Because of this fact, the IRA and Ireland split themselves into two parties: the anti-treaty and the pro-treaty parties. Collins became head of the provisional government of the Irish Free State in 1922. Many who had fought along side him now opposed him. The anti-treaty forces sparked a war with the pro-treaty forces, and it blew up into the Irish Civil War. Collins became General Collins of the Free State Army, which was a pro-treaty force, in this war. But he did not get to see the war resolve.
August 22, 1922, Collins was shot dead in his own county of birth, Cork. He was there searching for peace between anti-treaty and the pro-treaty forces. He said, "I'm going to put an end to this bloody war as soon as possible." Sadly, he wasn't able to. He was shot dead by his former comrades in arms.
Many believe that Collins' tactics were more brutal than they needed to be to gain Irish independence. But he was doing no worse that what Britain was doing to them. He was just responding to violence with violence, which is the only way it could've been done. No revolution is bloodless. The truth is without Collins' leadership and genius, Ireland would not have escaped British rule.
Collins became involved in the republican movements and joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) at nineteen years old. Being involved with this organization led to being a leader in the Easter Rising on Easter Monday, 1916. The Irish nationalists rebelled in Dublin against British rule with a large frontal assault. The rising failed to earn them independence though, and most participants were imprisoned and many leaders were executed. Public outcry ended these executions though, so Collins avoided a firing squad. When he came out, he immediately began to make his way to the top (see Titles and Accomplishments). He eventually became the head of intelligence in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This position is really what brought Ireland and England to negotiations. Collins made a brilliant intelligence program. He put his own spies in the Dublin Castle, which was the heart of British rule in Ireland. With this measurement, he always stayed one step ahead of the British. This was thwarting the British spy network largely, but it was really damaged when Collins organized Bloody Sunday and eliminated a number of their most effective detectives. The Black and Tans, who were brutal men the British enlisted, responded with the Siege of Tralee, which made the British control in Ireland hopeless. England had no other choice than compromising with Ireland.
So December 6, 1921 the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed by Ireland and Britain. It allowed for and Irish Free State. But it also said that Ireland was still under the British Empire. Because of this fact, the IRA and Ireland split themselves into two parties: the anti-treaty and the pro-treaty parties. Collins became head of the provisional government of the Irish Free State in 1922. Many who had fought along side him now opposed him. The anti-treaty forces sparked a war with the pro-treaty forces, and it blew up into the Irish Civil War. Collins became General Collins of the Free State Army, which was a pro-treaty force, in this war. But he did not get to see the war resolve.
August 22, 1922, Collins was shot dead in his own county of birth, Cork. He was there searching for peace between anti-treaty and the pro-treaty forces. He said, "I'm going to put an end to this bloody war as soon as possible." Sadly, he wasn't able to. He was shot dead by his former comrades in arms.
Many believe that Collins' tactics were more brutal than they needed to be to gain Irish independence. But he was doing no worse that what Britain was doing to them. He was just responding to violence with violence, which is the only way it could've been done. No revolution is bloodless. The truth is without Collins' leadership and genius, Ireland would not have escaped British rule.