Eamon De Valera (1882-1975), unveils statue of Robert Emmet

in Golden Gate Park, July 20, 1919 Sculpture Jerome Connor's statue of Irish patriot Robert Emmet is unveiled by Eamon De Valera in front of the California Academy of Sciences building in Golden Gate Park. The statue was donated to the city by former mayor,and Irish supporter, James D. Phelan. De Valera was on a fundraising tour of the United States in support of Sinn Fein and the Irish Volunteers. He had, earlier in 1919, escaped from London's Lincoln Prison with a key smuggled to him in a cake. He then came to the United States as a stowaway, and spent a year and a half raising funds for the Irish cause. He raised about six-million dollars during the 1919-1920 tour in cities such as San Francisco, Boston and New York  all with large, and sympathetic, Irish populations. Return to top of page