John Riley

Irish · 1824–1879

John Patrick Riley (also known as John Patrick O'Riley; Irish: Seán Pádraig Ó Raghallaigh) was an Irish soldier in the British Army who emigrated to the United States and subsequently enlisted in the United States Army. During the Mexican, American War of 1846 to 1848, Riley led several other defectors in the ranks who defected to Mexico, where they formed the Saint Patrick's Battalion in the Mexican Army.