In 1847, he took passage in one of the infamous "coffin ships" that transported Irish emigrants fleeing the Great Famine to British North America and the United States, wanting to see for himself the horrendous conditions that were leading to the deaths of so many of these passengers. As a witness, his with his cousin Vere Foster took a similar passage to New York in 1850.
In 1847, he traveled on one of the infamous "coffin ships" carrying Irish emigrants fleeing the Great Famine to British North America and the United States, so that he could observe firsthand the deplorable conditions leading to the deaths of many passengers. He accompanied his cousin Vere Foster as a witness when they made a similar journey to New York in 1850.