William Pearse
Photo: William Pearse
Born: 15 November 1881
Died: 4 May 1916
Aged 29 at the time of the 1911 Census
Census 1911 Address: 20.2, Haroldsgrange (Whitechurch, Dublin)1
The 1911 Census return for William Pearse was completed in Irish and his brother Pádraig was recorded as the head of the household. Pádraig was 31 years old and entered his occupation as a School Headmaster. Also on the Census return are William's mother Margaret (51) who was a widow, his sister Margaret (32) and William (29) himself who was a sculptor. The Census return included two other people: Margaret Brady, (40), William’s cousin, and Wilfred MacLoughlin (22), who was recorded as the son of William’s half-sister.
The 1911 Census return for the Pearse family was in Irish and included William's mother Margaret aged 51, his sister Margaret aged 32, (a future senator), and his brother Pádraig aged 31, (executed on 3rd May 1916), but does not include his other sister Mary Brigid.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Whitechurch/Haroldsgrange_/57855/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000133850/
William Pearse was born in 1881, the son of James, an English stone-mason who was originally from Birmingham and Margaret who was from Co. Meath. William was the younger brother of Pádraig, a leader of the 1916 Rising. William was a quiet man who was devoted to his brother Pádraig, with whom he was inseperable, but he lived in his shadow. William was educated by the Christian Brothers in Westland Row, Dublin and, along with his brother Pádraig, he developed an interest in Irish language and culture.
William was more of an artist then a revolutionary and, like his father, he displayed some talent as a sculptor. Pearse studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and he also studied art in Paris. He put his interests aside to assist his brother in running St. Enda’s School which both he and his brother founded in 1908. William was the art teacher in the school and he was also involved in organising a number of plays produced at the school. He enjoyed acting and became involved in a number of productions with different theatre groups.
Like his brother, William was a founding member of the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF) and a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). When Pádraig Pearse became more and more involved in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) William took over the day-to-day routine at Saint Enda's. Pádraig was a member of the Supreme Council of the IRB but William was not, however he did take part in the Rising, stationed with his brother at the GPO. He was beside his brother when Pádraig read out the Declaration of Independence.
William Pearse held the rank of Captain at the GPO. At one point a group of Irish Volunteers attempted to bring a wounded Volunteer to hospital. They were stopped and ordered to return to the GPO by William Pearse. The officer in charge M.W. O'Reilly, started to argue with him but Patrick Caldwell reminded him "Willie Pearse is a senior Captain and, therefore, we must obey his orders.2"
William Pearse was one of the last, if not the last person, to leave the GPO when the fire there blazed out of control and the order for evacuation was given3.
Following the surrender William Pearse was separated from Pádraig and brought to Richmond Barracks. Pádraig requested to see him before he died but he was executed before this could happen. On the way to the prison, William Pearse heard the shots which killed his brother. William was devastated but then faced his own court-martial.
William Pearse was the only one of those executed to plead guilty, though he was not in any senior command position. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. His mother and sister visited him before his execution. She felt that “Willie would never be happy to live without Pat4”.
William Pearse was executed on 4th May 1916 and is buried at Arbour Hill Cemetery, along with Pádraig Pearse and other executed men.
Photo: British Army note on executions of William Pearse, Michael O'Hanrahan, Joseph Plunkett and Edward Daly on 4 May 1916
William and his brother Pádraig were born in Great Brunswick Street in Dublin and this street was renamed in 1926 as Pearse Street to honour them. There are Pearse Roads in a number of places, including Ballyphehane in Cork, (which also has Pearse Place and Square). A number of Gaelic Athletic Association clubs and playing fields in Ireland are named after Pádraig or his brother: CLG Na Piarsaigh in Cork and Limerick, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, Galway. Westland Row Station in Dublin was renamed Pearse Station in 1966 after the Pearse brothers.
Photo: Pádraig and William Pearse
Sources:
Go to Roger Casement
