Thomas Kettle was born in Dublin, and was educated at Clongowes Wood and University College, Dublin, where he studied law. He was member of parliament for East Tyrone from 1906 to 1910. He practiced law and was made the first Professor of Economics at University College, Dublin. In 1913 he joined the Irish Volunteers, but in 1914 joined the Dublin Fusiliers and was employed in a recruitment capacity. His writings include Miscellaneous Essays; The Open Secret of Ireland; The Ways of War and The Day's Burden. He died leading a bayonet charge in the battle of the Somme. One of his own poems served as his epitaph: 'Died not for flag, nor King, nor Emperor,/But for a dream born in a herdsman's shed/And for the secret scripture of the poor'. It is inscribed on his memorial in St Stephen's Green, Dublin. Robert Lynd said of him that he was the most brilliant Irishman of his generation.

Born:	9 February 1880
Died:	9 September 1916