Page "Robert Emmet" Paragraph 4

Robert Emmet entered Trinity College, Dublin in October 1793, at the age of fifteen.

In December 1797 he joined the College Historical Society, a debating society.

While he was at college, his brother Thomas and some of his friends became involved in political activism.

Robert himself became secretary of a secret United Irish Committee in college, and was expelled in April 1798 as a result.

That same year he fled to France to avoid the many arrests that were taking place in Ireland.

While in France, Emmet garnered the support of Napoleon who had promised to lend support when the upcoming revolution started.

However, due to an explosion at one of the rebel safe houses, the plan for a revolution was exposed.

This prompted Emmet to move ahead of plan with the rebellion and as premature events unfolded the military support that Napoleon had promised never materialised and ultimately the rebellion failed.