John Mitchel was an Irish nationalist and political activist born in 1815 in County Armagh, Ireland. He is best known for his role in the Young Ireland movement, which sought to promote Irish independence from British rule. Mitchel was a journalist and wrote for various publications, advocating for the rights of the Irish people. In 1848, he was arrested for his involvement in the failed Young Irelander Rebellion and subsequently transported to Australia as a convict. After his release, Mitchel continued to campaign for Irish nationalism and later emigrated to the United States, where he remained active in political circles until his death in 1875.