Exploring the Irish Colony in the Amazon from 1612

Written by Ben Kesp

Tobacco Plantation Print - Amazon

Hearing that the Irish established an overseas colony is not a common occurrence, but there is historical evidence that two brothers, set up colonial settlement in the Amazon region from 1612 to 1632.

Originally, the Irish ventures, begun in partnership with the English (Voyages in Search of a North West Passage 1741-1747), but they very quickly developed into a quite distinct initiative. It is recorded as being the earliest example of independent Irish colonial project in the New World. By the early 1620s the Irish had become well known for their experience of the river and their expertise in Indian languages, proving far more efficient in their approach to exploiting Amazonia than the English.

Irish brothers, Philip and James Purcell, from Co. Tipperary, began what would be a profitable colony, at the mouth of the Amazon River, trading in tobacco, dyes, and hardwood. They were not alone in this endeavour and were joined by the English, French and Dutch settlers. They built a successful Tobacco plantation on a tributary of the Amazon that would become known as Purcell’s Creek (Clare Champion, 2010).

Due to the success of this, a second settlement, known as ‘Coconut Grove’ was established by Bernardo O’Brien, a member of the House of Thomond (Clare Champion, 2010) from Co. Clare in 1620, situated on the northern banks of the Amazon. O’Brien was part of contingent under Roger North, one of Sir Walter Raleigh’s trusted captains, who had set sail for Brazil with 120 colonists. After sailing more than 350km up the Amazon, Bernardo O’Brian and 16 other men from Munster, disembarked and set up base, with Captain North sailing further inland. O’Brien built a good relationship with Philip and James Purcell, so much so, that it became the envy of other colonists who saw the Irish as the only whites, the natives were willing to ally with.

The Purcell’s and O’Brien were exporting vast amounts of tobacco to England, Ireland, and Europe, generating huge profits. In 1621, Philip Purcell established a third colony in partnership with a Dutch company. However, things were not to remain in the favour of the colonists, as Portugal was annexed by Spain, creating an even more powerful force, that gave a warning to the foreigners in Brazil – disband and forfeit their claims. The Purcell colony, held out, however in 1625, the Irish colony was overrun by the Portuguese and Philip Purcell was killed. The remaining Irish were eventually allowed to return to Spain, were James Purcell reunited with Bernardo O’Brien, who had left the Amazon in 1625, a very wealthy man.

Purcell and O’Brien planned to reclaim their colony and tobacco plantations, by returning to Brazil and they rebuilt their settlement on the Amazon. However, the Portuguese surrounded the settlement and held it under siege, until O’Brien surrendered. James Purcell escaped and returned to Europe and it was not until 1634, that O’Brien would get passage to Spain. They were to live out the rest of their time in exile.

As we dig deeper into this transatlantic relationship between Ireland and Brazil, it shows of a strong connection that existed. Thomas Field, an Irish Jesuit priest, first settled in Brazil in 1577, in a place that would become modern day Sao Paola. In the 1820s, during the Cisplatine War, fought between the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata for the control of the Banda Oriental - the south American territories that form part of modern-day Uruguay - after it was annexed by Brazil, requests were sent to Ireland from Brazil to recruit soldiers and whoever joined the newly formed Brazilian army were promised a grant of land. However, the Irish were not treated well, and many mutinied to the other side, with others being shipped home.

Who knows what the Irish colony would have grown into, if there had not been a political and sovereignty change within the European powers. The Purcell brothers and O’Brien were certainly adventurous, with a strong business acumen and access to a lucrative market that allowed for success. It was a time of adventure, bravery, and a chance to explore the new world and they did not hesitate in taking advantage of it.

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