1918 East Cavan by-election
The 1918 East Cavan by-election was a parliamentary by-election held for the United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of East Cavan on 20 June 1918. The election was caused by the death of the sitting member, Samuel Young of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Background It had been clear for a long time that a by-election was likely, for Young was 96 years old and had been in poor health; Sinn Féin's preparations had begun as long as a year in advance. Within days of his death, the party's founder and former leader Arthur Griffith was nominated as its candidate. The political climate was tense. Having won four by-elections in 1917 - in North Roscommon, South Longford, East Clare and Kilkenny City - Sinn Féin had appeared to be winning a majority of support of the nationalist population. However, since the beginning of the year the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) had won three seats - South Armagh, Waterford City and East Tyrone - in by-elections. With the Irish Convention – boycotted by Sinn Féin – about to present its report on proposals for implementing self-government for Ireland, there was a possibility that Sinn Féin support might be receding. At this point