The Belfast Jacobin: Samuel Neilson and the United Irishmen

Focusing on Samuel Neilson's pivotal role in the Society of United Irishmen, this biography explores his influence on radical politics in 18th-century Ireland. As an editor of the Northern Star, Neilson shaped revolutionary ideology and galvanized public sentiment against British rule, particularly in the wake of the French Revolution. Kenneth Dawson highlights Neilson's organizational skills, his conflicts with authorities, and his significant involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, shedding light on a key figure often overlooked in historical narratives.