We explore a family link acknowledged by Kamala Harris's father, to Hamilton Brown. Brown travelled from Ireland to Jamaica in the 1700s to work as a bookkeeper. He acquired several plantations farmed by enslaved people. As momentum built to abolish the trade, Brown strove to undermine the abolitionist cause and was paid considerable compensation.

Born in Derry, Charles Tegart abandoned his studies in TCD, to join the Indian Police. A keen linguist and master of disguise, Tegart frequently met his contacts at night, dressed in turban and beard as a Sikh taxi driver. He survived multiple assassination attempts. Later his work took him to War of Independence Ireland and Palestine.

Born to a poor Catholic family in Monaghan, Charles Gavan Duffy worked as a journalist, agitator for tenants’ rights, and MP. His failing health and political influence, led him to emigrate to Australia in the 1850s. Greeted as a political celebrity, he was elected to the Parliament of Victoria, serving as a Minister, State Premier and Speaker.

Kerryman David Tuohy captained four ships transporting enslaved Africans to the Caribbean. Dublin sailor James Field Stanfield provided testimony to the abolitionists. As Governor of Jamaica, Howe Peter Browne tried to end enslavement. Kay Donnellan and Frances Cahill went to Trinidad to teach, but were imprisoned for political agitation.

Wexford born John Barry fled the Penal Laws as a cabin boy aboard his uncle’s ship. At 15 he sailed to Philadelphia. When the 13 colonies declared independence, Barry captured the first British Navy ship for the Americans, rescued vital supplies of gunpowder and led a stealth mission to resupply George Washington’s starving army at Valley Forge.

Between 1848 and 1850 over 4,000 girls were sent from Irish workhouses out to Australia, as part of a British scheme to help populate the colony. They were met with prejudice and hostility, described as ‘ignorant creatures' barely able 'to distinguishing the inside from the outside of a potato’. We trace the story of one, Eliza Fraiser.

Born in Cork, O'Brien was imprisoned in the Tower of London as a child. Fighting for the French in Catalonia, he was captured by Algerian pirates, lost an eye and was taken hostage. Later he served as Governor of two imperial outposts: Tangiers, which he struggled to defend, and Jamaica, where he faced a revolt by enslaved workers.