Justin McCarthy (1830-1912) was an Irish nationalist, historian, novelist, politician and MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from 1879 as a Liberal Home Ruler. In 1860 he moved to London, as parliamentary reporter to The Morning Star, of which he became editor in 1864. His earliest publications were novels, some of which, such as A Fair Saxon (1873), Dear Lady Disdain (1875) and Miss Misanthrope (1878) attained considerable popularity. His most important work is his History of Our Own Times (7 volumes, 1879-1905). He also began A History of the Four Georges (4 volumes, 1884-1901), of which the latter two volumes were co-authored by his son, Justin Huntly McCarthy (1859-1936).