In a move that will catapult the American President even higher in our estimation, it has been revealed that Abraham Lincoln donated to Ireland during the Great Famine.
By Declan Whooley
Irish Central reports that the 16th President of the United States was one of 15,000 people worldwide that donated to the country in the middle of the 19th century.
Trinity College graduate and Professor at Drew University in New Jersey Christine Kinealy has been studying the Famine for 20 years and discovered that Lincoln donated $10, the equivalent of $500 in today’s money.
She feels that it was in-keeping with Lincoln’s fondness of all things Irish.
“I suppose Lincoln always had a great affinity for the Irish and their plight. He knew and recited Robert Emmet’s speech from the dock and his favourite ballad was Lady Dufferin’s poem ‘The Lament of the Irish Emigrant’ set to music,” she said.
Donations came in from all over the world, with the American president at the time James L. Polk donating $50 while Queen Victoria also added to the fundraising.
Good on ye Abe and Vicky.
