Born, 1766; executed, 1798.
This young Irish patriot, who is described by Yorke as having been
the fervent admirer of and even suitor for the hand of Théroigne de
Mirecourt, was the fourth son of Henry Sheares, of Whiterock (who was
a connection of the then Earl of Shannon). This gentleman was a member
of the Irish Parliament from 1761 to 1767, and was eventually appointed
to a well-paid Governmental sinecure office. When his father died, John
Sheares, a student in Trinity College, Dublin, inherited £3000. He was
called to the Irish Bar in 1790.
In 1792 he and his brother Henry visited France and he became a convert
to the views of the most revolutionary party in that country. He was
a member of the Convention, voted for the death of Louis XVI., and
was present at his execution. He was obliged to fly from France, as
his views were considered too moderate by the leaders of the Jacobin
Club. He returned to Dublin and there led a retired and literary
life, following at the same time his profession as a barrister, when
unfortunately for himself he began to take a leading part in Irish
politics.
When the “Press,” an anti-Governmental organ, was started by Arthur
O’Connor in 1797, Sheares wrote several leading articles for it; and
one of these, a violent attack upon Lord Clare, caused the total
suppression of that newspaper in March 1798.
The hostility of Lord Clare having stopped him in the practice of
his profession, Sheares and his brother Henry decided to emigrate
to America. But they not only did not do so but joined in a plot to
disaffect the militia in King’s County against the Government. A
certain Captain Armstrong of that regiment made their acquaintance, and
after having gained their confidence, informed against them, and they
were both arrested May 21, 1798, and confined in Kilmainham Gaol. They
were tried for high treason six weeks later. John Sheares, knowing that
his own fate was sealed, only desired and hoped to save his brother
Henry, his senior by thirteen years, a married man with six children,
and whom he declared had acted entirely under his (John Sheares’)
guidance.
The only witness against the brothers was Armstrong. The trial
lasted for sixteen consecutive hours--an adjournment was moved for
by the prisoner’s counsel, as every one connected with the affair
was sinking from exhaustion, but the motion was opposed by the
Attorney-General--and at eight o’clock in the morning, after a summing
up lasting only a few minutes, a hurried verdict of guilty against the
prisoners was returned by the wearied and worn out jury. Henry Sheares
fainted in court upon hearing the sentence of death pronounced. After
their condemnation no friends or relatives were allowed an interview
with the brothers, who were hanged the following morning before the
prison gates. After remaining for some time on the gallows their heads
were struck off; but their bodies were not quartered (July 14, 1798).