Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Friendly Sons of St. Patrick The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, officially The Society of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland, is an American charitable and social organization for Irish-Americans founded in 1771. The Society was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day), 1771. Among the founders were General Stephen Moylan, aide to George Washington and cavalry commander in the Revolutionary War, and Thomas Fitzsimons, representative of Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress and signatory of the U.S. Constitution, both of whom were born in Ireland. George Washington became an honorary
St Patrick (horse) Catterick Bridge Racecourse on 6 April. Ridden by Bob Johnson, he won the Old Stakes over two miles, beating Cumberland, Borodino and High Sheriff. After a break of four and a half months, St Patrick reappeared at York Racecourse on 24 August when he contested a sweepstakes over ten furlongs and "won cleverly" from Lady of the Vale and Fitz-Teazle. On 26 September, St Patrick was one of a record field of twenty-seven colts and fillies to contest the forty-fifth running of the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse. Henry Pierce's grey colt Arbutus started favourite at odds of 9/2 with