This engaging biography of Father Theobald Mathew, the great Irish temperance reformer, provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of early nineteenth-century Ireland. Author John Francis Maguire traces Mathew's life and career, from his childhood in Tipperary to his ordination as a Capuchin friar to his influential work as a temperance advocate. Along the way, Maguire explores the political, social, and cultural contexts that shaped Mathew's thinking, and offers insights into the broader history of Irish nationalism, Catholicism, and reform movements. This is an essential book for anyone interested in Irish history or the history of social reform. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.