Cork City to unveil plaque for local man said to have coined the phrase 'United States of America'

General Stephen Moylan was aide-de-camp to General George Washington (pictured).

The Cork man believed to have been the first to use the phrase “United States of America” will be remembered in Cork City next month.

A plaque will be unveiled on Blarney Street on Cork’s northside on January 30 in memory of General Stephen Moylan, as part of a series of events being held to honour Irish people who contributed to the history of the US in the 250 years since its independence.

Having been educated in France, General Moylan went to America, where he became aide-de-camp to General George Washington. A letter written by the Cork man on January 2, 1776, to Washington’s private secretary, Joseph Reed, used the phrase “United States of America”, and is the first known use of the phrase.

Moylan was a member of a merchant family in Cork City and historian Michelle O’Mahony says his brother was a bishop of both Cork and Kerry, who had links to Nano Nagle.

During the American Revolution, General Moylan served in a number of different roles, including as Commander of the Fourth Continental Light Dragoons, and Commander of the Cavalry of the Continental Army. He settled in Philadelphia.

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A song commemorating the Cork man has now been written by Blarney songwriter Dave McGilton, called Philadelphia’s Fields.

The unveiling of the plaque on Blarney Street next month is one of a series of events organised by the Irish America 250 group.

Chief of Operations of Irish America 250, Morgan O’Sullivan, is originally from Blackrock in Cork and is based in Florida. He said the group is a non-partisan one which is “intent on placing the Irish at the centre of America's 250-year celebrations next year".

"We have big plans and ideas for the year ahead, and with the support of the Irish government, Northern Ireland Executive, US governors, congressmen and prominent members of the Irish American community, many of these are coming to fruition.” 

He said General Moylan’s use of “United States of America” was six months “before the US Declaration of Independence”.

On January 14, an event will take place at Villanova University in Philadelphia in honour of General Moylan, organised by the Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick. Moylan was a founding member of the group in 1771.

Mr O’Sullivan said the contribution of women to American history will also be marked on February 1, St Brigid’s Day.

Among those who will be honoured on that day will be Mary Harris, the Cork woman who became known as Mother Jones who, in 1902, was called "the most dangerous woman in America" for her success in organising miners and their families against the mine owners.