Roger Sweetman

This article is about the Irish politician. For the Newfoundland colonial politician, see Roger Sweetman (Newfoundland politician).

Roger Sweetman
Sweetman in 1919
Teachta Dála
In office
December 1918 – 27 January 1921
ConstituencyWexford North
Personal details
Born(1874-08-18)18 August 1874
Dublin, Ireland
Died20 May 1954(1954-05-20) (aged 79)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partySinn Féin
SpouseKatharine Kelly
Children11, including Edmund
Relatives
EducationDownside School
Alma materKing's Inns

Roger Mary Sweetman (18 August 1874 – 20 May 1954) was an Irish Sinn Féin politician and barrister.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Sweetman was the son of brewer Hugh Sweetman of Roebuck Hall, Dundrum, Dublin, from a Catholic family that became prosperous as brewers in the 18th century.[1][4] His mother was Gertrude Blackney. He was educated at Downside School.[1] He was called to the bar from King's Inns in 1898.[5] An amateur tennis player, he won the 1905 East of Ireland championship,[6] and in 1902 reached the final of the Irish Open men's doubles and lost to Sydney Howard Smith in the first round of the Wimbledon singles.[6]

Sinn Féin

Sweetman's cousin John Sweetman was an Irish Parliamentary Party MP from 1892 to 1895, who migrated to Sinn Féin and became its second president in 1908.[7] When John declined on age grounds to stand in the 1918 UK general election in Wexford North, Roger stood instead and unseated Thomas Esmonde of the Irish Parliamentary Party.[8][7] He joined the other Sinn Féin members by refusing to sit in the Westminster House of Commons and in January 1919 attended the inaugural meeting of the First Dáil at the Mansion House, Dublin, which proclaimed itself parliament of an Irish Republic.[9]

In November 1920, breaking ranks with Sinn Féin, Sweetman wrote to the press calling for a truce and peace negotiations in the Irish War of Independence, and criticising Irish Republican Army actions, in particular the assassinations on Bloody Sunday.[10] He was criticised for this when the Dáil next met on 25 January 1921.[11] Two days later he announced his resignation as Teachta Dála because of his "radical disagreement with the majority ... on a vital matter of policy".[12] He did not contest the June 1921 election.[8] Thereafter he concentrated on farming, promoting use of Friesian cattle in dairy farming.[1]

Family

In May 1904 Sweetman married Katharine (Kathleen) Mary Kelly, daughter of Thomas Aliaga-Kelly.[2][5] They lived in Herbert Park, Dublin,[5][13] and later at Derrybawn House, Glendalough.[1] They had 11 children, 5 sons and 6 daughters including: Edmund Sweetman, a Senator.[13][14][15][16][2]

A nephew was Gerard Sweetman, was Minister for Finance in the 1954–1957 coalition.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Mr. Roger Sweetman". The Irish Times. 21 May 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Social reformer Father Michael Sweetman dies at 82". The Irish Times. 24 October 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Roger Sweetman". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  4. ^ a b Genealogical Office. "Copy of confirmation of arms to the descendants of Patrick Sweetman, son of Michael Sweetman, both of Longtown, Co. Kildare, and to the grandson of the said Patrick, being Roger Mary Sweetman of Derrybawn, Co. Wicklow, son of Hugh Sweetman of Roebuck Hall, Dundrum, Co. Dublin, March 2, 1932". Sources. National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Thom's Irish Who's Who. Dublin: Alexander Thom. 1923. p. 244.
  6. ^ a b "Player: Roger Mary Sweetman". Tennisarchives.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b McGee, Owen; Wheelock, Harriet (2010). Sweetman Family Papers (PDF). Collection Lists. Vol. 156. National Library of Ireland. p. 7. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Roger Sweetman". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Roll Call". Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) debates. Houses of the Oireachtas. 22 January 1919. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. ^ Laffan, Michael (2 December 1999). The Resurrection of Ireland: The Sinn Féin Party, 1916–1923. Cambridge University Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-139-42629-9.
  11. ^ "President's statement — Truce negotiations". Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) debates. Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 1921. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. ^ Sweetman, R. M. (28 January 1921). "Mr. Roger Sweetman's Position". The Irish Times. p. 4. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Residents of a house 24 in Herbert Park Road (Pembroke West, Dublin)". Census of Ireland 1911. National Archives of Ireland. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  14. ^ a b Sweetman, Rosita (20 November 2011). "Review: The Widest Circle: Remembering Michael Sweetman Edited by Barbara Sweetman FitzGerald". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  15. ^ "A Wicklow Wedding". The Irish Times. 27 September 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  16. ^ JH (19 November 2007). "Appreciation: Sister Joan Sweetman". The Irish Times. p. 17. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wexford North
1918–1922 		Constituency abolished
Oireachtas
New constituency Teachta Dála for Wexford North
1918–1921 		Constituency abolished