The Treaty of Union: How Ireland Lost Its Parliament

The History of Ireland: Rebellion, Empire, and Independence — Fexingo History · Sep 21, 2026 · 7m · transcript

We often think of Irish independence as a 20th-century event, but the legal machinery that ended Ireland’s sovereignty was built much earlier. In this episode, we trace the complex political maneuvering behind the Act of Union of 1800. We explore how the British government, led by Lord Cornwallis and Prime Minister Pitt the Younger, worked to dissolve the Parliament of Ireland in Dublin. The story involves heavy bribery, the promise of Catholic Emancipation, and the fierce resistance of figures like Henry Grattan. We also look at the immediate aftermath, including the rebellion of 1798 and…