The College Historical Society (commonly known as The Hist) was founded in 1770, and is situated in the Graduates' Memorial Building of Trinity College, Dublin. It is the oldest undergraduate debating society in the world and provided the model for many other universities to follow.

History

Foundation

The College Historical Society was founded in 1770, with James Reid as its first Auditor, when Edmund Burke's Debating Club (founded 1747) merged with the Historical Club (founded 1753). It was a time of great change in Ireland and the Western World, at the height of the Enlightenment and before the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. From its inception it took a nationalist stance, rejected a proposal to unite Ireland with Britain during its first session and later supporting the American's claims to independence.

Rebellion in Ireland

Theobald Wolfe Tone, later leader of the Society of the United Irishmen, was elected auditor in 1785, and Thomas Addis Emmet was a member of the committee.The society was briefly expelled from the College in 1794, but readmitted on the condition that "No question of modern politics shall be debated". In 1797 the poet Thomas Moore and the nationalist Robert Emmet. Eight members of The Hist were expelled in 1798 in the run-up to the Rebellion, and a motion was later carried condemning the rebellion, against their former Auditor.

Restrictions and Expulsion

Tension between the society and the college flourished in the early nineteenth century. The auditor was called before the Provost in 1810. In 1812 the provost Dr Thomas Elrington objecting to the motion 'Was Brutus justifiable in putting Julius Caesar to death?'. After a number of members were removed at the request of the College board, the society left the college in 1815.

The Extern Society

The Society continued from 1815 as the Extern College Historical Society. Among its members at this time were Isaac Butt, who tried unsuccessfully in 1832 to have the Society readmitted, Joseph Sheridan LeFanu, Thomas Davis and John Dillon. Davis and Dillon went on to found the Young Ireland movement as well as its paper The Nation. In 1843 the Society was refounded within the College after a student petition.

Successful Years

The Society continued successfully after that with many lively debates, including the motion on June 10, 1857 'That the Reform Bill of Lord Grey was not framed in accordance with the wants of the country', proposed by Isaac Butt and opposed by Edward Gibson. In 1864 the Society collected money from its members to erect statues outside the College of Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith. Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, became auditor in 1872. Edward Carson and Oscar Wilde debated against each other at this time; the two were to meet again when Carson defended the Marquess of Queensbury in the libel case that led to Wilde's conviction for acts of gross indecency.

The Society moved to the Graduates' Memorial Building (GMB) in 1904, where it still resides today with 'The Phil'. The College Board relaxed its rules, allowing such motions as 'That the Gaelic League is deserving of the support of every Irishman' in 1905 and 1906.

The Twentieth Century

The society continued well through the twentieth cenury, although the First World War hit it badly, with 136 of its former members being killed. Eoin O'Mahony was elected auditor in 1930 and faced impeachment when he raised a toast to Ireland instead of the King. Former Gold Medallist and later President of Ireland Douglas Hyde was elected President of the Society in 1931.

Women had been refused membership of the society until 1969, and the motion 'That this House reveres the memory of Mrs Pankhurst' was debated with Rosaleen Mills participating (the motion, however, was defeated). The first lady auditor was elected in 1976, future Tánaiste Mary Harney. The Society's Bicentennial Meeting in 1970 was addressed by US Senator Edward Kennedy.

Presidents and Vice-Presidents

Presidents of the Society 1843-

• The Rev. Franc Sadleir, D.D., Provost of Trinity College 1843-1852
• The Rev. Richard MacDonnell, D.D., Provost of Trinity College 1852-1854
• The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Napier , LL.D., Lord Chancellor 1854-1883
• The Right Hon. Lord Ashbourne, LL.D., Lord Chancellor 1883-1913
• The Right Hon. Sir John Ross , Lord Chancellor 1913-1925
• The Right Hon. Lord Glenavy, LL.D., Lord Chancellor, Chairman of the Senate of the Irish Free State, Vice-Chancellor of the University 1925-1931
• His Excellency Douglas Hyde, LL.D., Litt.D., President of Ireland 1931-1949
• Sir Robert W. Tate, M.A., Litt.D., S.F.T.C.D. 1950-1953
• Frederick H. Boland, LL.D., Irish Representative at the UN, President of the UN General Assembly, Chancellor of the University, Medallist 1953-1983
• Dr Donal Conor Cruise O’Brien, B.A., Ph.D., Litt.D., M.R.I.A., T.D., Medallist 1983-2003
• Professor David John McConnell, B.A., Ph.D., F.T.C.D., M.R.I.A., F.Z.S.I. ex-Auditor, Medallist 2003-

Current Vice-Presidents

• Professor Robert Brendan McDowell
• John N. Ross, Former Auditor
• Stephen G. Harris
• William Arthur Watts, Former Provost
• Mary Robinson, Former Senator and President of Ireland
• Professor Gary H. Holbrook
• Michael J. Cameron, Former Auditor
• Senator Shane Ross
• Senator David Norris
• Senator Mary Henry
• Eric Lowry, Former Auditor
• The Hon. Justice Declan N. O. Budd, Justice of the High Court
• David O'Sullivan, Former Auditor

Notable Auditors

• Theobald Wolfe Tone, 1785-86, Leader of the Society of the United Irishmen
• Echlin Molyneaux , 1821-27
• Isaac Butt, 1832-33, Leader of the Nationalist Party 1874-1880
• Joseph Sheridan LeFanu, 1838-39
• Bram Stoker, 1872-73, author of Dracula
• Mary Harney, 1976-77, Leader of the Progressive Democrats 1993-

Other Notable Members

• Thomas Addis Emmet , United Irishman
• Thomas Moore, Poet
• Robert Emmet, Revolutionary
• Thomas Davis, Politician and poet
• John Blake Dillon, Irish Patriot
• John Pentland Mahaffy, Classicist
• William Edward Hartpole Lecky
• Oscar Wilde, Playwright
• Edward Carson, Leader of the Unionist Party 1910-1921
• Douglas Hyde, Poet and President of Ireland 1938-1945
• Brian Lenihan, Jr, Minister of State
• Mary Robinson, President of Ireland 1990-1997

Competitions

The Hist runs three internal debating competitions throughout the year: The Maiden Speakers' Competition, for those starting college speaking; The Freshers' Masters, similar idea, held later in the year in Mace format; and The Wolfe Tone Debating Competition open to all members. They also host the Kingsmill-Moore Invitational and the Claire Stewart Intervarsity competitions in association with the Phil.

Sources

Official Site of The Hist