A painting of the Trial of Bill Burns, showing Richard Martin with the donkey in an astonished courtroom, leading to the world's first known conviction for animal cruelty, a story that delighted London's newspapers and music halls.

Colonel Richard Martin (15 January 1754 – 6 January 1834), was an Irish politician and animal rights activist.

[edit] Early life

Martin was born in Ballynahinch, County Galway, the only son of Robert Martin Fitz Anthony of Birchall, County Galway, and Bridget Barnwall, a daughter of Baron Trimlestown. Martin was raised at Dangan House, situated on the Corrib River, four miles upriver from the town of Galway.

His father's family were Jacobites and one of "The Tribes of Galway", fourteen merchant families who ruled Galway from the 14th to 17th centuries. The Barnwalls were an ennobled family of Norman descent based in the counties of Dublin, Kildare and Meath in Leinster. Bridget Barnwall died when Richard was nine years old. Richard's father later married Mary Lynch, a member of another "Tribal" family, with whom he had sons Robert and Anthony. Though both of his parents were Catholic, Richard Martin was raised a Protestant and educated in England.

[edit] Catholic Emancipation

Martin represented Jamestown in the Irish House of Commons between 1776 and 1783. He also represented for Lanesborough in the same House of Commons from 1798 to 1800, and promoted Catholic Emancipation. He was elected for Galway County during 1800 just before the Act of Union dissolved the Irish Parliament and obliged Irish MPs to sit in Westminster, London. He continued to represent County Galway in Westminster as a political independent until 1812 and again from 1818, supporting the Tory government of Lord Liverpool. In the House of Commons he was known for his interruptions and humorous speeches. He continued his work towards Irish Catholic Emancipation till 1826, when he had to flee to France. Emancipation was finally granted in 1829, much to his delight.

[edit] Animal Rights

Martin is now most famous for his work against the cruelty to animals, especially against bear baiting and dog fighting. His actions resulted eventually in Martin's Act of 1822, entitled "Ill Treatment of Cattle Bill". He also tried to spread his ideas in the streets of London, becoming the target of jokes and political cartoons that depicted him with ears of an ass. He also sometimes paid fines of minor offenders. On June 16, 1824 he was present when the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in a London coffee shop "Old Slaughter's", though he denied being the initiator of the society.

[edit] Active life

Martin also had a very eventful life. He was a colonel of the County Galway Volunteers. He survived two shipwrecks. He fought over a hundred duels with sword and pistol and earned the nickname "Hairtrigger Dick". He travelled extensively in Europe and the Americas during the 1770s and was in New England when the American Revolutionary War began. He initiated Galway's first theatre. He was in Paris when the French Revolution began during 1789.

Martin divorced his first wife who had had an affair with the Irish rebel Theobald Wolfe Tone and was awarded £10,000 compensation that he donated to the poor.

Martin was on a first-name basis with many of the famous names of his age, Henry Flood, Henry Grattan, William Pitt, King George IV (who gave him the nickname "Humanity Dick"), Queen Caroline and Daniel O'Connell.

[edit] Unseating and escape

After the election of 1826, Martin was deprived of his parliamentary seat because of a petition which accused him of illegal intimidation during the election. He had to flee into hasty exile to Boulogne, France, because he could no longer enjoy a parliamentary immunity to arrest for debt. He died there peacefully in the presence of his second wife and their three daughters on 6 January 1834.

Martin's eldest son Thomas B. Martin inherited his Connamara estates while his only other surviving son, Rev. Richard Martin (1797–1878), left with his wife and six children for Canada during 1834, where their descendants still live. Recently deceased Ross Martin, who worked in the Prime Ministers Office under Mackenzie King, and Emma Martin Tysick are two examples. During the 1980s his grave in Boulogne was decorated with a plaque honouring his activities.

[edit] Other facts

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (April 2009)

He was a kinsman of Richard Martyn (died 1648), important member of the Irish Confederation

[edit] Descendants

Martin's descendants include:

• D'Arcy Argue Counsell Martin, c.1899-1992.

[edit] References

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2008)

• "Humanity Dick Martin: 'King of Connemara', 1754-1834", Shevawn Lynam, ISBN 0-946640-36-X; Lilliput Press, May 1989.
• The Tribes of Galway, Adrian James Martyn, Galway, 2001.
• "The Eccentric Member for Galway: The Story of Richard Martin, Animal Rights Pioneer", Peter Phillips, ISBN 1-898594-76-7; Parapress, 2003.
• "Richard Martin 'Humanity Dick' (1754–1834)", Stephen Farrell, History Today June 2004