Robert Emmet statue in Washington DC honors Irish rebel

Robert Emmet, an Irish nationalist and rebel leader, was executed for high treason on September 20, 1803, following an abortive rebellion in Dublin against British rule. Before his death, Emmet delivered a famous speech requesting that his character not be vindicated until Ireland achieved its place among the nations of the earth.

To honor his legacy, a bronze statue created by Irish sculptor Jerome Connor was unveiled in 1917 at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The dedication ceremony was attended by US President Woodrow Wilson and various Irish-American dignitaries. In 1966, as part of the Jubilee Celebration, the statue was moved to its current location in Rock Creek Park, managed by the National Park Service. Extracts from Emmet’s historic speech are displayed near the monument.