Thomas Sullivan, also known as Sully, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He grew up as a street urchin, learning to fight for scraps of food. As a young man, he became the Kilkenny Bare-knuckles boxing champion, taking on all-comers, and was a very good fighter. In 1788, while working as a prizefighter in Dublin, Tommy refused to take a dive in a fight against the Dublin champion as instructed by the fight's promoter. The promoter had him murdered. Sullivan revived as an immortal and was found by Immortal Rory Colhoun, who became his teacher. After training with Rory for two years, and deeming himself ready, Tommy took the time to murder the fight promoter who had him killed before taking a ship to America, the land of opportunity.