Thomas Desmond
San Francisco Sheriff 1880 -1881

Thomas Desmond was born in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland, in 1838, and immigrated to the United States in 1854. He was a member of the famous Irish Nationalist Expedition that liberated six Irish Republican prisoners from Freemantle Prisoner in Australia in 1875. As a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, he felt the injustice of the six remaining prisoners held by the British for participating in the Fenian Uprisings of the 1860's. With a group known as the "Clan na Gael," they raised funds to charter an American flag vessel known as the "Catalpa," which was sailed to Australia to free the Irish prisoners. Prior to running for the office of Sheriff, he worked as a wheelwright and carriage maker. He was elected on the Workingman's Ticket in 1880. He died in 1910 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.