John Flood

218

Dianne Jones on 21st March 2023

BIOGRAPHY summary from People Australia at https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/flood-john-32098: Life Summary Birth: 2 May, 1841, Howth, Dublin, Ireland Death: 22 August, 1909 (aged 68), Gympie, Queensland, Australia Cultural Heritage: Irish Religious Influence: Catholic Passenger Ship: Hougoumont (1868) Occupation: convict convict (political) goldmine manager goldminer Irish nationalist journalist local government councillor local government head newspaper editor newspaper owner Military Service: Queensland Irish Volunteers Key Organisations: Queensland Hibernian Friendly Society Key Places: Palmer goldfields (Qld) Political Activism: Fenian Workplaces: John Flood and Co Irish Citizen (NSW) newspaper Gympie Miner (Qld) newspaper Widgee Divisional Board (Qld) Convict Record: Crime: insurrection Sentence: 15 years Court: Dublin (Ireland) Trial Date: 21 May 1867 Pre-transportation: Occupation: solicitor --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 12th September 2021

MORE ABOUT JOHN FLOOD: "John Flood... had been principally responsible for the smuggling of arms across the Irish Sea to Ireland. A Dublin ship-owner's son educated at the exclusive Catholic School, Clongowes Wood College, Flood studied law under the tutelage of Isaac Butt before joining the Fenians in the early 1860s. His intimate knowledge of his father's shipping trade, combined with certain navigational skills enabled him to devise a system of smuggling American rifles into Ireland. The work soon brought him into close contact with the Fenian commander in Ireland, James Stephens, and with Colonel Thomas Kelly, an Irish-American in control of Fenian military tactics. It also involved one or two Fenian missions to America. Joseph Denieffe remembered that Flood 'always looked like a sailor or petty officer who had just stepped off one of Her Majesty's ironclads. He was invariably in great spirits and the picture of health, and was a man of resources, courage and aptitude for any emergency that might arise' (Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, New York, 1906, pp. 127-8). And John Denvir observed him to be: 'a fine handsome man, tall and strong, wearing a full and flowing tawny-coloured beard...who you could imagine would fill with grace and dignity the post of Irish ambassador to some friendly power'. In 1865 Flood helped smuggle Stephens to France after the Fenian commander managed a remarkable escape from Richmond Prison. Accompanied by Kelly he took Stephens by collier to Scotland and thence via London to Calais, throwing authorities at Dover off guard with his perfect mimicry of an upper class English accent. On his return to London he became head of the IRB in England and Ireland, and in this capacity jointly organized with an Irish-American advisor, Captain John McAfferty, an ill-fated attempt to seize British arms stored in Chester Castle, near Liverpool. Attempting to escape to Ireland after the raid aborted, he was arrested at Dublin harbour on 23 February 1867. He was tried in April, found guilty of treason-felony and sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment" (KW Amos, 1987, "The Fenians and Australia c1865-1880", at https://rune.une.edu.au).

4

ingrid flood on 2nd July 2018

Political Prisoner from Ireland and Solicitor. Born in Dublin, at one time he lived at The Isle of Man. Educated at Clongowe’s Wood, County Kildare. Studied under eminent Irish lawyer, Isaac Butt. Leader of Fenian movement of the 1860s Sentenced 21st May, 1867 to 15 years penal servitude. Est. - The Wild Goose - A newspaper on the convict ship. Est paper in Sydney Australia: The Irish Citizen Editor - Brisbane Courier John Flood and Co., mining secretaries in Gympie. Est. - Gympie Newspaper Co., Ltd. Owner of paper - Gympie Miner H.A.C.B. Society Solicitor Journalist Widgee Shire Council chairman Widgee Divisional Board Widgee Valuation Appeal Court, Captain of the local company of Queensland Irish Volunteer Corps, Irish Home Rule movement in Australia

60

Eric Harry Daly on 20th December 2012

John Flood born 2 May 1841 at Sutton, Dublin, Ireland. From The Irish Prison Registers: name: John Flood role of individual: Prisoner event: Prison event date: 1867 event place: Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland residence: Isle Of Man age: 29 birthplace: Dublin (Howth) estimated birth year: 1841 prison: Kilmainham offence: Treason Felony where convicted: Mountjoy Prison Obituary for John Flood Transcribed from the newspaper The Gympie Times, August 24 1909, p.? DEATH OF MR JOHN FLOOD It was with surprise and very great regret that the news of the death of Mr. John Flood, at his residence, South Side, was learnt on Sunday, very few people being previously aware that he was seriously ill. He had not been in the best of health for some time, and a week ago had a bad turn, but from this he appeared to be recovering so that he was able to get about again towards the end of last week. Early on Saturday morning, the illness suddenly assumed a serious aspect and he lapsed into the unconsciousness of diabetic coma. Dr. Cuppaidge was called in, and subsequently had a consultation with Dr. Ahern, but the medical gentlemen held out no hope. After lingering a few hours, Mr. Flood passed peacefully away at 20 minutes to 3 o'clock on Sunday morning. The deceased gentleman, who was 68 years of age, had an eventful life, such as it is given to few, except those with the gift of leadership, to pass through. He was born in Dublin and was educated at Clongowe's Wood, County Kildare. Fresh from College he studied for some time under the eminent Irish lawyer, Isaac Butt, but the troublous condition of his native land at this time enlisted his sympathy and he entered with patriotic fervor into the Fenian movement of the '60s, quickly becoming one of the trusted leaders in the organization. As will have been noticed in an article published a few weeks ago, he assisted Colonel Stephens, the noted Irish patriot and Head of the Movement, to escape from Ireland at a time when the whole of the Irish detective service was engaged in the search for him. In company with Colonel John McAfferty, an Irish-American, John Flood participated in planning and organising a raid on Chester Castle, which contained a large store of arms, and only for the betrayal of the plan by an informer, would probably have succeeded in the design. Finding their movements anticipated the party made their way to Holyhead, taking the steamer to Dublin. They passed the detectives on the Holyhead pier, but the information gained enabled the detectives to wire to Dublin that the two leaders were on the steamer. As the vessel entered the river Liffey, Flood and his companions saw the banks of the river lined with troops, and though an attempt was made to escape in the small boat of a collier, they were arrested. In the trial that followed McAfferty was sentenced to death, but the sentence was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life. John Flood on 21st May, 1867, was sentenced to fifteen years penal servitude, and was sent to Western Australia in the last vessel that brought convicts and political prisoners to Australian shores. After nearly five years of his sentence had been fulfilled, Mr. Flood was released on ticket of leave, the only conditions being that he did not leave Australia or attempt to return to England or Ireland. He proceeded first to Tasmania and next to Sydney, establishing a paper called "The Irish Citizen", which was printed from 2nd December, 1871 to Aug. 3, 1872, and bore the imprint, "Printed and published by the proprietor, John Flood, at No. 6 Park-street, Sydney." The discovery of the Palmer goldfield next attracted his attention and he went to that goldfield, but returning to Cooktown, the port of the Palmer, he took charge of one of the Cooktown papers as editor. He subsequently joined the literary staff of the "Brisbane Courier" under Mr. Carrol as editor, and Mr. Gresley Lukin as proprietor and general manager. Mr. Flood came to Gympie in 1881, and with the late Robert Acton, established the firm of John Flood and Co., mining secretaries, a partnership which terminated some years ago by the retirement of Mr. Acton, since when Mr. Flood had carried on the business of mining secretary on his own account. Mr. Flood's early journalistic work led him in 1888 to form the Gympie Newspaper Co., Ltd., to acquire from the late Mr. A.L. Boucicault, the "Gympie Miner", then an afternoon paper, and convert it into a morning paper. For several years to continued in the position of managing-director of the Company, and took an active part in the journalistic control of the paper, until it was disposed of to Messrs. Boase and Scott, from whom the present proprietary purchased it seven years ago. Mr. Flood always took an active part in local affairs, and was especially recognized as a leader in all movements having reference to the Irish National question. On these matters he was consulted by those connected with the Irish Home Rule movement in all parts of Australia, and maintained a continuous correspondence with his native land. When Messrs. Redmond, Dillon, Davitt, and other members of the Irish National Party visited Gympie, they were his guests. In local affairs, Mr. Flood was a member of the Widgee Divisional Board from 1889 to 1892, and from 1893 to 1897, being elected Chairman of the Board in 1891. He was a member of Widgee Valuation Appeal Court, which is to commence the hearing of appeals to-day. He twice contested the Wide Bay electorate, on the first occasion in 1888, when he was beaten by Mr. now Sir Horace Tozer, by the narrow majority of 13 votes. He at one time was connected with defence matters, having occupied the position of captain of the local company of Queensland Irish Volunteer Corps, which only had a short existence. Whilst in Cooktown he married a Tasmanian lady, Miss O'Bryne, and to them were born a family of four daughters and two sons. His wife predeceased him about 12 years, and only two daughters survive him to mourn the loss of a devoted father. The deceased gentleman was somewhat reserved in manner and disposition, but those who were privileged to know him intimately keenly appreciated his richly stored mind, his sound judgment, and his fidelity to principles and friendships, whilst the general public respected him for his upright, straight-forward character, and his innate courtesy, which was always present even when discussing matters on which he held strong conviction. The funeral yesterday was largely attended. At the head of the cortege marched local members of the H.A.C.B. Society, and Mr. Concannon, representing the Maryborough branch of the Society, who came to Gympie to attend the funeral. The Rev. Father Horan conducted the funeral service at the graveside.