James Wilson (Irish nationalist)

Wilson had been sentenced to penal servitude, and found the monotony and work involved so hard that he wrote to a New York City journalist, John Devoy entitling his letter, A Voice From the Tomb.

Devoy was moved enough by Wilson's description of the conditions under which he and his colleagues laboured to begin collecting money from the American-Irish community to organise their rescue.

Initially two British ships sought to stop the progress of the Catalpa and recapture the men, but after receiving a warning shot, Anthony raised the American flag.

In 1920, Wilson met Éamon de Valera who was touring the United States, trying to gain support for his Irish Republic.

Wilson died on 6 November 1921;[1] his remains are buried in the cemetery on the grounds of St. Mary's Church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.