Isaac Butt

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Isaac Butt (1813–1879) is regarded as the founder of the Home Rule Movement in Ireland. Born in 1813, Isaac Butt was a politician and nationalist leader. He was a member of the Irish and English Bar, and was a renowned lawyer and scholar.**

Isaac Butt (1813–1879) was a politician and nationalist leader. Born in Glenfin the only son of a Protestant rector. He was educated at the Royal School, Raphoe and at Trinity College Dublin. He was a member of the Irish and English Bar, and was a renowned lawyer and scholar.

He was also an opponent of the famous "Liberator" Daniel O Connell. Following the Irish Famine, however, Butt became more liberal, and defended the people who participated in the failed Young Ireland rebellion in 1848. He entered the Parliament in 1852 as a Liberal-Conservative.

He was continually urging the land tenure reform, defending the Fenian leaders,and in 1870 founded the Home Rule Society. In 1856 the Home Rule League had 56 members, led by Isaac Butt. He remained leader of the Home Rule Movement until he died in 1879, when leadership was passed over to Charles Stewart Parnell.

Butt Bridge in Dublin is named after him.