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Course Description: Paul R. Wylie, the author of The Irish General: Thomas Francis Meagher will discuss Meagher’s life as an Irish patriot, Civil War general, and Montana territorial governor. The talk will be taken from the book where Wylie first recalls Meagher’s life from his boyhood and leadership of Young Ireland in the revolution of 1848, to his exile in Tasmania and escape to New York, where he found fame as an orator and as editor of the Irish News. Meagher served in the Civil War—viewing the Union Army as training for a future Irish revolutionary force—and rose to the rank of brigadier general, leading the famous Irish Brigade. Wylie traces Meagher’s military career in detail through the Seven Days battles, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. Wylie then recounts Meagher’s final years as acting governor of Montana Territory, sorting historical truth from false claims made against him regarding the militia he formed to combat attacking American Indians, and plumbing the mystery surround¬ing his death. Even as Meagher is lauded in most Irish histories, he remains an enigma and his statue in front of Montana’s capitol is viewed by some with contempt. “The Irish General brings this multi-talented but seriously flawed individual to life, offering a balanced picture of the man and a captivat¬ing reading experience”, according to the publisher, The Univesity of Oklahoma Press. The Irish General has been been described as “an engaging biography” by James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of
Battle Cry of Freedom.
How do I become a member?
Meeting Place and Times: 3-5 p.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church on South 3rd.
Instructor(s): Paul Wylie. Paul Wylie is an independent researcher and retired attorney living in Bozeman. He has had a varied career. Raised in White Sulphur Springs in Meagher County, he earned a degree in chemical engineering from Montana State University and was employed as a rocket engineer before becoming a patent examiner in Washington, D.C. He graduated from law school in 1965 and over the next 40 years he practiced intellectual property law in Utah, California and Montana; first as corporate counsel and then in his own private practice. During the last 15 years his career tended toward providing expert testimony on economic damages in patent infringement suits; including being the winning expert in the multi-billion dollar case Polaroid brought on its instant photography patents against Kodak. During his legal career he was recognized by a committee chairmanship in the American Bar Association, and listings in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry.
Cost: $0.00
For More Information: Contact the Office of Continuing Education at ContinuingEd@montana.edu or (406) 994-6683.
How to Register: Contact the Office of Continuing Education at ContinuingEd@montana.edu or call (406) 994-6683 or toll free (866) 540-5660.
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