Michael Mallin was an Irish rebel who took an active role in the 1916 Easter Rising. Born in Dublin, Mallin was second in command of the Irish Citizen Army under James Connolly and commanded the garrison at St. Stephen"s Green in Dublin, with Constance Markievicz as his second in command. Mallin had enlisted in the British army as a boy soldier/drummer boy in his early years and served for many years in India. His experience there radicalised him and manifested itself in his becoming a leading official in the silk weavers union upon his return to Ireland. Mallin surrendered Sunday, 30 April 1916 when ordered to do so by Connolly. At his court-martial he attempted to downplay his involvement: this was understandable as he was a young father of four children and his wife was pregnant with a fifth. Mallin projected himself as a mere tradesman and band leader who had by chance become involved in the Irish Citizen Army and the Rising. He sought to exculpate himself from blame by suggesting that he was a mere dupe, obeying orders and ignorant of Connolly"s plans for insurrection. He claimed that Countess Markievicz was in command, and not second in command to him, and that she had commanded him to take charge of the men on the Monday. However he was convicted and executed by firing squad. In his last letter to his wife, Mallin stated that "I find no fault with the soldiers or the police" and admonished her "to pray for all the souls who fell in this fight, Irish and English.