Patrick Pearse 16 Lives - 16 Lives Author:Ruan O'Donnell The public face of the 1916 Rising, Pearse was in charge of the General Post Office (G.P.O.). When the British army overpowered the Irish rebels, it was Pearse who ordered their general surrender in order to save further loss of life. He was tried and executed by a firing squad in Kilmainham Jail on May 3rd, 1916.