Henry Munro

Henry Munro (1758 – 1798) was a United Irishman born in Lisburn, County Down, who in 1798 commanded rebel forces, the United Army of Down, at the Battle of Ballynahinch.

Life The Lisburn and Lambeg Volunteers firing a feu de joie in honour of the Dungannon Convention, 1782; Henry Munro is said to be the man behind the lady with a headscarf, with his hand to his chin He was the only son of a Presbyterian tradesman of Scottish descent The result was that several hundred of his best men immediately deserted.

About two o'clock on the morning of 13 June the rebels succeeded in effecting an entrance into the town, and had apparently gained the day when the bugle sounded for the retreat of the royal troops, and the rebels, mistaking the signal for the pas de charge, fled in disorder from the south, while Nugent's men were evacuating Ballinahinch by the north. The latter soon rallied and cut off the retreat of the Irish in all directions but one. Through this loophole, Munro led about 150 men after the rest had been hopelessly routed. In the pursuit, no quarter was given.

In a story that recalls the legendary tale of young Betsy Gray, according to the later recollections of a contemporary Munro's mother claimed that her daughter, Munro's sister, "Peg," had ridden onto the field of battle. Peg Munro was mounted on a grey pony and wore a grey sash.

Arrest and execution Munro fled alone to the mountains. He was taken early in the morning of 15 June about six miles from Ballinahinch. He was immediately removed with one Kane, or Keane, who was captured at the same time, to Hillsborough, whence he was taken to Lisburn, tried by court-martial, and hanged opposite his own door, and in sight, it was said, of his wife and sisters. He behaved with marvellous coolness to the last. He settled a money account with Captain Stewart, a yeomanry officer, at the foot of the gallows, then said a short prayer and mounted the ladder. A rung gave way, and he was thrown to the ground. On reascending it, he gave the signal for his execution, after uttering the words, 'Tell my country I deserved better of it.' Munro's house and property were destroyed by the royal troops. The green and white plume which he wore at Ballinahinch was afterwards given to Bishop Percy, 27 October 1798. Henry Munro's remains were believed to have been exhumed in 1843, during construction works on a family vault in Lisburn Cathedral's cemetery, and the identification of the corpse was confirmed by Rev. Edward Cupples, the Rector of Glenavy and Vicar General of Down and Connor, who had attended the execution as a youth. In the grave was also found an axe, which local folklore claimed had been used for the beheading.

Family Munro married in 1795, Margaret Johnston, fourth daughter of Robert Johnston of Seymour Hill in Antrim. His widow died at Belfast in February 1840. His daughter married one Hanson, an independent minister.