Tag Archives: 1815

02 November-George Boole

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George Boole, who invented Boolean algebra, was the first Professor of Mathematics at University College Cork, Ireland. Boolean logic became the basis for the development of computer languages and the technology which surrounds us today. Boole is described as the ‘father of the information age’.

George Boole was born in Lincoln, England in November 1815. Largely self-taught he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at Queen’s College, Cork (now University College Cork) in 1849. He served as Professor at the University until he died at the age of 49 on December 8th 1864. During his time in UCC his most famous work, The Laws of Thought was published in 1854.

George Boole, who invented Boolean algebra and was the first Professor of Mathematics at University College Cork, Ireland, was born in the year 1815 On This Day.

George Boole photo

Photo by OpenPlaques

 

Boole photo

Photo by Packie_s

UCC by Packie_s on 2012-08-11 17:27:09

08 August-Dr Barry Edward O’Meara Physician to Napoleon

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Dr Barry O’Meara, physician to Napoleon on St Helena, was a native of Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland. He was related to artist Frank O’Meara of Carlow, Ireland*. Having qualified as doctor Barry O’Meara served with the army. He served in various conflicts before accompanying Napoleon to the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in August 1815.

Barry Edward O’Meara was born in Newtownpark House, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock (then Newtown-on-Sea) in Co. Dublin in 1784. He studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and also at the Royal College of Surgeons. He qualified in 1804 and joined the army in Dublin as a surgeon. O’Meara served in Egypt, Sicily and Southern Italy during the Napoleonic wars. During his time in Italy he was dismissed from the army because of his involvement in a duel.

Following his dismissal from the army O’Meara later joined the navy. He was serving on board HMS Bellerophon when Napoleon demanded asylum from the British. Napoleon did so in order to avoid Prussian troops who had been ordered to capture him dead or alive following the battle of Waterloo. O’Meara, who could speak both Italian and French, became friendly with Napoleon who requested that O’Meara accompany him to St Helena as his medical attendant. Napoleon’s French doctor, Maingault, refused to travel to St Helena.

Napoleon and his retinue arrived on St Helena on October 15th 1815. Though there were difficulties with accommodation everything was fine until Galway native Hudson Lowe arrived as governor of St Helena in April 1816. O’Meara had strong disagreements about the treatment of Napoleon and the doctor felt the new governor was mistreating the former Emperor. O’Meara also wrote to the British Government outlining his concerns. The difficulties continued however and O’Meara was eventually forced to leave St Helena in August 1818.

He was dismissed as a doctor by the navy. He settled in London where he practised as a dentist on Edgware Road. In the window of his surgery he displayed a tooth which he said he had extracted form Napoleon. O’Meara eventually published his diaries about life on St Helena, as Napoleon had advised him to do. He was friendly with Daniel O’Connell and was a supporter of Catholic Emancipation. While attending one of O’Connell’s fundraising meetings in the Crown & Anchor Tavern in London in 1836 O’Meara caught a chill when he stood near an open window to get some fresh air. He became ill and died at the age of 53, at his home, 16 Cambridge Terrace, London on June 3rd 1836.

Napoleon Bonaparte and his party, which included Dr Barry Edward O’Meara from Ireland, departed from England for the island of St Helena on board HMS Northumberland in the year 1815 On This Day.

St Helena photo

Photo by Biblioteca General Antonio Machado

“Napoleón” by Biblioteca General Antonio Machado on 2009-10-08 13:52:47

St Helena photo

Photo by D-Stanley

Napoleon Museum, St Helena. by D-Stanley on 2014-09-17 12:59:49

*(Catholic Fiction and Social Reality in Ireland, 1873-1922 (1997), James H Murphy)

18 June-Battle of Waterloo

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The Battle of Waterloo marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of the French. In June 1815 the Seventh Coalition of nations intended to invade France and remove Napoleon as Emperor. Two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition, the British and Prussian defeated the French Army at waterloo. It is estimated that over 8,000 Irish soldiers, some of them in Napoleon’s army, fought at Waterloo.

During the early part of the 19th century Napoleon Bonaparte conquered much of Europe through a series of wars. In 1812 he invaded Russia. The invasion resulted in a disastrous defeat. This together with other defeats led to the abdication of Napoleon in 1814. He was exiled to the island of Elba.

Napoleon escaped from Elba in February 1815. He was declared an outlaw at the Congress of Vienna on March 13th 1815. He returned to Paris and, on March 20th, embarked on what has come to be known as the Hundred Days Campaign.

Napoleon was regarded as an enemy by the Austrians, the Prussians, the British and the Russians. They raised an army to invade France and defeat him. Napoleon marched into Belgium on June 15th with the intention of defeating the allied forces one by one. He forced the Prussians to retreat but failed to destroy their army. He then moved against the British who had retreated to a defensive position near the village of Waterloo about 15km south of Brussels.

The British Army was under the command of the Duke of Wellington. It was made of British, Irish, Belgian, Dutch and German troops. Napoleon’s army mounted a strong attack against the British. However the tide was turned against the French by the arrival of the Prussians. Napoleon’s Army retreated in chaos. There were thousands of casualties on both sides.

Napoleon abdicated on June 22nd 1815 and sought asylum from the British. Napoleon did so in order to avoid Prussian troops who had been ordered to capture him dead or alive following the battle of Waterloo. He was exiled again, this time to the island of St Helena in the south Atlantic. He died there at the age of 51 on May 5th 1821.

The Battle of Waterloo was fought in the year 1815 On This Day.

Battle of Waterloo photo

Photo by Catablogger

Battle of Waterloo by Catablogger on 2012-10-23 11:09:06