Fenian Association

An Irish revolutionary society, established about 1858. During the American Civil War, it became an organized institution, with headquarters in New York, with the avowed object of fomenting disturbances in Ireland, and making the Government of that country by England impo ible. Its leader was James Stephens. In 1866 the Fenians attempted a raid into Canada, which was entirely unsucce ful. In 1867 a general rising in Ireland was planned, which also failed. Two further unsucce ful attempts upon Canada took place in 1870 and 1871, from which point its activity was confined to a few isolated outrages of small importance. The name Fenian is taken from the old Irish Militia, which was known as Fionna Eirinn.