An event in Ireland that led to the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act by the British government in 1829. In 1828 Daniel O’Connell, an Irish lawyer, stood for election to Parliament in the County Clare constituency, winning a resounding victory over his opponent. However, O’Connell, as a Roman Catholic, could not take his seat. The Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, felt that if O’Connell were excluded there would be violent disorder in Ireland. Accordingly, despite furious opposition, the government pushed through a Catholic emancipation measure allowing Catholics to sit in Parliament and hold public office.