oct 18, 1797 - The Irish Rebellion of 1798 begins when the Irish Militia arrest the leadership of the Society of United Irishmen,[2] a group unique amongst Irish republican and nationalist movements in that it unifies Catholics and Protestants (Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and others) around republican ideals. This month, Lord Castlereagh is appointed Acting Chief Secretary for Ireland and on March 30 martial law is proclaimed here. The first battles in the rebellion are fought on May 24 and it continues thr