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12 December 1890
Parnell resigns
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Mrs Katherine 'Kitty' O'Shea has been Parnell's
lover since 1880, and she has had three children by him. Her husband,
Captain Willy O'Shea, a Home Rule MP, brings the affair into the
public domain when he sues for divorce in December 1889. This creates
a huge scandal, and Gladstone threatens
to withdraw Liberal support for Irish home rule unless Parnell gives
up the leadership of the Home Rule
Party. After the latter votes narrowly against him, Parnell resigns.
The party splits into pro- and anti-Parnell factions.
When her divorce comes through, Kitty marries Parnell on 25 June 1890.
He fights three by-elections in Ireland and loses them all to anti-Parnellites.
On 6 October 1891, he dies of pneumonia. The scandal has discredited
Parnell personally, and his 'New Departure' (see 1879 Irish Land War), which began with a broad coalition of Irish
politicians and agitators working together, is regarded as a failure.
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