Online Talk | Sir Charles Wogan, knight-baronet of the Kingdom Ireland
A portrait claimed to be that of Sir Charles Wogan, Jacobite soldier, Roman senator, and man of letters. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Join us on Zoom for the second lecture of the new 'Strangers to Citizens' online talk series, delivered by Richard Maher.
When Princess Clementina Sobieska was betrothed to James Stuart III, the exiled Jacobite claimant to the Kingdoms of Britain & Ireland, his enemies flew into action and Clementina was detained at Innsbruck in 1718. Charles Wogan of Kildare masterminded Clementina's rescue and escape. Supported by his king, the pope, Clementina's father Prince James Louis, his hand-picked rescue party slipped into Innsbruck in April 1719 and effected what is essentially one of the most sensational events in the history of the Wild Geese. After much calamity, Clementina was brought to safety in Rome. James III created Wogan a knight-baronet of the Kingdom of Ireland, a copy of whose patent is held at the NLI. This talk will retell the incredible story and discuss the patent and its importance.
The new Strangers to Citizens online talk series is part of the official Cultural Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council. The series explores the story of Irish migration to Europe between 1600-1800, examining both the political and cultural context of this period, as well as the fascinating tales of individuals who made the journey from Stranger to Citizen. In keeping with the spirit of the official Cultural Programme for Ireland's Presidency of the European council, we look forward to welcoming attendees to this online talk series from across Ireland, the European Union and beyond.
The Strangers to Citizens talk series is inspired by a newly developed travelling banner exhibition of the same title, which is currently touring partner organisations across the country. For more information, click here: Irish Presidency of the EU 2026 | National Library of Ireland
Richard K. Maher is a teacher with the City of Dublin Education & Training Board. He teaches Gaeilge, Politics, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. He has been researching the Wild Geese for more than ten years. He organised a one-day seminar to commemorate the tercentenary of the rescue and escape of Princess Clementina in 2019, and its follow-on publication. He recently published a new biography of Sir Charles Wogan. He has begun a sabbatical to pursue archival research in France, Spain and Italy.
If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us on learning@nli.ie.
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