Charles Stewart Parnell's Armchair, c.1840 Mahogany armchair with moulded padded back, padded arms with lotus-scroll handles and circular fluted legs, the back of the armchair bearing a small...

Charles Stewart Parnell's Armchair, c.1840 Mahogany armchair with moulded padded back, padded arms with lotus-scroll handles and circular fluted legs, the back of the armchair bearing a small brass plaque engraved Chair of Charles Stewart Parnell from Aughavannagh 1890, one arm detached. The offered lot was owned by the political leader Charles Parnell and formed part of the furnishings at his shooting lodge at Aughavannagh, Co. Wicklow. Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891) began his political career in 1874, serving under Isaac Butt, leader of the Irish parliamentary party. The following year he was elected M.P. for Co. Meath, exchanging his seat for that of Cork City in 1880. Parnell's radical nationalism won him the support of the scattered forces in Parliament who were keen on securing legislative independence for Ireland. In 1879 Parnell formed The National Land League of Ireland, of which he was President, and the following year he was elected chairman of the home-rule party in the House of Commons. In 1881 Parnell was arrested and imprisoned for sedition, while the Land League was declared illegal. During the period of his imprisonment Parnell gained a great deal of support and was known among his followers as 'the uncrowned King of Ireland'. Released in 1882, Parnell revived the Land League as the Irish National League intent on attaining national self-government as well as land-law reforms. Parnell's political career came to an abrupt end in 1890 when his liaison with a married woman became the subject of a much publicised divorce suit. The Prime Minister, Gladstone, declared Parnell unfit to continue as leader of the Irish part, and when majority of the Irish party members also withdrew support Parnell was forced to resign. In 1891 Parnell married his former lover, Katherine, lately divorced, but died of inflammation of the lungs in Brighton later the same year.

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