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The Transatlantic Career of the Canadian Imperialist Hamar Greenwood 1870-1948

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Published in Empire And Ireland: The Transatlantic Career Of The Canadian Imperialist Hamar Greenwood 1870 1948

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Hamar Greenwood was a Canadian-born British politician who served as Chief Secretary for Ireland during the Irish War of Independence. He was a controversial figure, known for his hardline stance on Irish nationalism. Greenwood's career spanned both sides of the Atlantic, and he played a significant role in shaping British policy towards Ireland.

Empire and Ireland: The Transatlantic Career of the Canadian Imperialist Hamar Greenwood, 1870–1948

by Laurence Rees

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Early life and career

Hamar Greenwood was born in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, in 1870. He was the son of a Methodist minister, and he was educated at the University of Toronto. After graduating from university, Greenwood worked as a journalist in Canada and the United States. In 1896, he moved to England, where he continued to work as a journalist.

In 1906, Greenwood was elected to the House of Commons as a Liberal Unionist MP for Sunderland. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade from 1915 to 1916, and as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1916 to 1919.

Chief Secretary for Ireland

In 1920, Greenwood was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland. He was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which established two parliaments in Ireland, one for Northern Ireland and one for Southern Ireland. Greenwood's tenure as Chief Secretary was a turbulent one. The Irish War of Independence was raging, and Greenwood was responsible for overseeing the British government's response to the conflict.

Greenwood's approach to Ireland was hardline. He believed that the Irish were incapable of self-government, and he was determined to suppress the Irish nationalist movement by force. Greenwood authorized the use of reprisals against Irish civilians, and he was responsible for the Bloody Sunday massacre in Dublin in 1920.

Greenwood's policies failed to quell the Irish rebellion, and he was eventually replaced as Chief Secretary in 1922. He returned to England, where he continued to serve in the House of Commons until 1931.

Later life

After leaving politics, Greenwood became a director of several companies. He also wrote several books, including a memoir of his time as Chief Secretary for Ireland. Greenwood died in London in 1948.

Legacy

Hamar Greenwood is a controversial figure in Irish history. He is remembered as a hardline imperialist who played a key role in the suppression of the Irish independence movement. However, Greenwood's supporters argue that he was a loyal servant of the British Empire, and that he was simply ng his duty in Ireland.

Greenwood's legacy is complex and contested. He was a complex and contradictory figure who played a significant role in British policy towards Ireland. His career is a reminder of the complex relationship between Britain and Ireland, and the challenges of governing a divided society.