1. Samuel Neilson was an Irish businessman, journalist and politician.
10 Facts About Samuel Neilson
1. 2.
Samuel Neilson was a founding member of the Society of United Irishmen and the founder of its newspaper, the Northern Star.
3.
Neilson was born in Ballyroney, County Down in the north of Ireland, the son of Presbyterian minister Alexander, and Agnes Neilson and was, therefore, a "son of the manse".
4.
Samuel Neilson was educated locally, but like many of his contemporaries was influenced by English Whig and Scottish Enlightenment thinking.
5.
Samuel Neilson was the second son in a family of eight sons and five daughters.
6.
Samuel Neilson helped establish the United Irishmen in Belfast, at first a quasi-Masonic society.
7.
Samuel Neilson was a founder of the Dublin United Irishmen, which functioned as a more open political club.
8.
Samuel Neilson was a driving force on the ground in Ireland, helping organise groups of Irishmen as soldiers in the battle of gaining independence from Britain.
9.
Samuel Neilson was indicted for high treason and held in Kilmainham Jail with other "state prisoners" for the duration of the doomed rebellion outside.
10.
Samuel Neilson was preparing to revive the Northern Star and bring his family over from Ireland when an outbreak of yellow fever struck the city in August 1803.