Hi, aht

I have submitted your Comments on #314200 to Forensic Analysis and I
have been advised that you apparently live in Canada.

So, I am sure that you are a whizz on Canadian history (as well as
everything else) ...

Can you therefore tell me the name of the British agent who
infiltrated the Fenians and foiled their plot to invade Canada during
the 19th Century?

Please note that I want the name that the agent was given at birth,
not the one that he assumed later by which he is better known.

And I want you to promise that you won't go to bed until you deliver the answer.

And, please, NO CONFERRING!

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 08 Mar 2004 09:25 PST

Aha Aha Aht

I've stumped you have I?

I thought so.

Your previously unblemished record looks as though it is now going to
get badly stained.

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Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 08 Mar 2004 09:37 PST

probonopublico:

I was already IN bed when you posted this Question.... it was 03:58am
Pacific time, if the Google clock is correct. However, now that I've
seen it, I shall seize the challenge, and duly investigate it for you.
An Answer shall be posted (if an Answer is possible), forthwith!

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 08 Mar 2004 09:58 PST

An answer is certainly possible.

probonopublico-ga:

I believe that the British secret service agent to whom you refer, is
none other than Thomas Beach, more famously known as Henri le Caron.

Born in Cochester, England in 1841, Thomas Beach led an eventful life,
up until his (forced) resignation/retirement following the Parnell
Commission in 1890. He passed away four years later.

Here is a brief online biography of Thomas Beach's life:

Thomas Beach AKA: Henri Le Caron - British Agent In U.S. Against the
Irish (1841 - 1894)
http://www.angelfire.com/oz/1spy/Beach.html 


Thomas Beach/Henri le Caron is also mentioned at length in Chapter 3
of the online biography of Sir Robert Anderson:

SIR ROBERT ANDERSON - Secret Service Theologian
CHAPTER III - LONDON. THE HOME OFFICE AND SECRET SERVICE 
http://www.newble.co.uk/anderson/biography/biog3.html
http://www.casebook.org/ripper_media/rps.apmoore.2.html

He is also mentioned in Sir Robert Anderson's other work, 'The Lighter
Side Of My Official Life':

http://www.casebook.org/ripper_media/rps.lighterside.11.html


Here is some information regarding his time serving in the 15th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary (where he attained the rank of Major,
and befriended General O'Neill who was one of the original Fenian
organizers):

A Biographical sketch of Henri LeCaron
http://www.swcivilwar.com/15LeCaron.html


Thomas Beach wrote an autobiography, entitled 'My Twenty-five Years in
the Secret Service', originally published in 1892 (Heinemann, London).
Some versions of this book can be found at Abebooks:

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookSearchPL?ph=2&an=le+caron&tn=twenty-five+years+in+the+secret+service&sortby=2

However, given your avid interest in this field, I suspect that you
may already own this book?

Please let me know if you would like any part of this Answer
clarified; otherwise, I hope that it meets your expectations!

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Answer by aht-ga on 08 Mar 2004 10:59 PST

A slip of the fingers... Colchester is indeed the correct name for his birthplace.

Brilliant, aht

I don't know how you do it.

And, if you say he was born in Cochester, England then I am sure that
you are right.

Other sources say Colchester but obviously my money is on you.

Well done!

I don't have his autobiography but I am currently reading a biography by J A Cole.

I can't wait till I get to the end to see what happened to Canada.

Warmest regards

Bryan