Does anyone have information on Lord Trevelyan's shipment of Indian corn?

Answer 1

There was a famine in Ireland during the 1940s. Lord Trevelyan was a member of Parliment in Britain and Britain ruled Ireland during that period. Trevelyan imported corn from India for the starving Irish because it was the cheapest corn available

The reference to "Trevelyan's Corn" in the Irish folk Ballad, the 'Fields of Athenry' has a deep historical significance for many of us of Irish descent. The lyrics in the song depict the plight of our ancestors who suffered through the "Great Hunger" (Famine) in Ireland from 1845-1850. The reference to "Trevelyan's Corn" in the following lyrics is a politically charged reference rooted in rebellion more than common larceny.

"Michael they have taken you away

For you stole Trevelyan's corn

So the young might see the 'morn

Now a prison ship lies waiting in the Bay"

To understand the reference, one needs to listen to a subsequent verse in the ballad and also know a little bit about Irish History. The subsequent verse goes:

"Against the Famine and the Crown

I rebelled, they cut me down

Now you must raise our child with dignity"

Charles Trevelyan didn't own any specific cornfields in Ireland. He was Assistant Secretary in the British Treasury Office from 1840 to 1859, and he was in charge of "famine relief" during the Irish potato famine of 1845-1850. A philosophical disciple of Thomas Malthus, he believed that little should be done to "intervene" in the Irish potato famine. The historical record is littered with quotes from this disciple of Malthus that document the fact that his actions intentionally exacerbated the famine. At the time, Trevelyan stated that the famine was a "mechanism for reducing surplus population" in Ireland. He also stated that the Irish famine was "the judgment of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson." No wonder that in the Catholic Falls Road area of Belfast today, one can view a large mural depicting "Britain's Genocide" during the "Great Hunger."

While the famine was in full force in Ireland, Trevelyan and the British aristocracy insisted on pursuing a policy of increasing Irish exports of beef, corn and other agricultural products back to Britain. Instead of alleviating the suffering by keeping more crops in Ireland, Trevelyan made sure that British policy would speed up the "thinning of the (Irish) stock." From an Irish perspective, Trevelyan is among the most detested British figures in the tumultuous relationship between Britain and Ireland.

Michael's theft of "Trevelyan's Corn" in the Irish folk ballad was an act of rebellion, not larceny. The author was more concerned with keeping the Irish flames of independence alive than telling the tale of a poor rural Irish family. For those of us who had relatives that sailed over on "coffin ships" to America during this era, 'Fields of Athenry' represents an anthem to our ancestors. It is about those who remained in Ireland to resist British tyranny in the struggle for freedom.