Robert Cane

Who was Robert Cane?

Dr. Robert Cane, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1807. He was a member of the Repeal Association and the Irish Confederation. He qualified as an M.D. in 1836, became a member of Kilkenny Corporation and was Mayor twice.

He founded the Celtic Union in 1853, and was editor of its journal, The Celt. He died on 17 August 1858. A lengthy biographical article is to be found in the Irish Quarterly Review. Short biographies appear in the Dictionary of National Biography and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

He was the model for Dr. Kiely in Charles J. Kickham's Knocknagow. He was MD of the University of Glasgow. He influenced James Stephens and Charles Kickham. He corresponded with Thomas Davis. He was visited by Charles Gavan Duffy and by Thomas Carlyle.