Join us for an evening of history and discussion as we listen to a talk by a fellow book group member, Michael Fraser.

North East Labour History Society & Tyneside Irish Cultural Society Present:

Sir Charles Trevelyan and the Irish Famine – ‘the Victorian Cromwell’? by Michael Fraser

Sir Charles Trevelyan of Wallington in Northumberland was a highly successful British Civil Servant who is best remembered in Britain for his involvement in the modernization of the Civil Service. In Ireland he is however remembered as the man responsible for the relief of the ‘Great Hunger’ during which a million people died and even more fled abroad. Mike will assess Trevelyan’s role in what is regarded as the greatest disaster in nineteenth century Europe.

I have given history talks to many groups in the North-East when based in Berwick upon Tweed. Margaret and I have now moved back to Newcastle. My most popular talk was on the Labour politician Sir Charles Trevelyan of Wallington. My latest research is on his controversial grandfather, also Sir Charles Trevelyan. While I am a Celtic supporter I am not Irish! This study was prompted by a chat with two Irish people which made me aware of their anger about the ‘Great Hunger”. Knowing Trevelyan’s papers were in Newcastle University’s Special Collections I thought this would be an interesting topic to study. It has been interesting but also extremely depressing.

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