John Allen, who had played an important role in Robert Emmet's rising in 1803. A year after O'Reilly's birth, the Great Famine began, an event that would shape O'Reilly's life and beliefs. Most of O'Reilly's closest family managed to survive the famine, however many of O'Reilly's classmates lost their lives because of it. The son of a schoolmaster, O'Reilly received a good early education. When he was about thirteen his older brother contracted tuberculosis and O'Reilly took his place as apprentice at a local newspaper. England In 1859, at the age of fifteen, O'Reilly moved to Preston, Lancashire to live with his aunt Christina and uncle James Watkinson, a sea master, after being convinced by his uncle to travel back with him to England to visit. He took up work on local newspaper the Preston Guardian. In June 1861 O'Reilly enrolled in the 11th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, with whom he received some military training. On returning to Ireland in March, 1863, he enlisted with the 10th Hussars in Dublin. While O'Reilly was in the army he began to witness the treatment and oppression of his fellow citizens in Ireland; these events influenced his opinion on the army and England and had such a massive emotional impact on him that he was determined to take action. Irish Republican Brotherhood Irish Republican Brotherhood and arrest In 1864, O'Reilly joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood, then commonly known as the "Fenians", a secret society of rebels dedicated to an armed uprising against British rule. He turned his energies to recruiting more Fenians within his regiment, bringing in up to 80 new members. He presented himself to conspirators in Clonmel under the false name of Kelly. He assisted in recruiting Irish young men and soldiers to the Brotherhood. In February 1866 O'Reilly along with many other Fenians were arrested and sent to Arbour Hill military prison. On 27 June 1866 (the eve of his 22nd birthday) O'Reilly's trial by court martial began; he was charged with treason. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, but due to his age the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and later 20 years' penal servitude. From that point on he spent around 15 months in some of England's most notorious prisons such as Millbank, Pentonville and Dartmoor. During this time O'Reilly attempted to escape twice but was quickly recaptured and placed in solitary confinement. Transportation and life