Biographies A-Z

Chadwick, John Cooper- (1864–1948), colonial policeman and Rhodesian pioneer, was born 13 May 1864 in Baggotstown, Bruff, Co. Limerick, second son of Richard Austin Cooper-Chadwick (1831–92) of Ballinard House, Emly, Co. Tipperary, and his second wife, Charlotte Sophia (d. 1912),…

Chaigneau, William (1709–81), army agent and novelist, was born 23 December 1709 at Back Key, Dublin, and baptised at St John's, Dublin, on Christmas eve, second son among thirteen children of John Chaigneau, vintner, and Margaret Chaigneau (née Martyr), both of Dublin and of huguenot…

Challoner (Chaloner, Challyner), John (c.1515–81), merchant and administrator, was second son of Roger Challoner (d. 1521), London alderman, and Margaret Challoner (née Middleton), both of Welsh ancestry. John, sometime auditor in English-occupied Calais, settled in…

Challoner, Luke (1550–1613), Church of Ireland clergyman and vice-provost of Trinity College, Dublin, was born into a prosperous family, which had emigrated from London to Dublin late in Henry VIII's reign. All that is known of his father is that he owned property in Dublin, but…

Chalmers, Sir Robert (1858–1938), 1st Baron Chalmers , public servant, was born 18 August 1858 in London, only son of John Chalmers, gentleman, and Julia Chalmers (née Mackay). Educated at the City of London School, he studied classics at Oriel College, Oxford, later changing to…

Chamberlain (Chamberlane), Robert (d. 1636), Franciscan friar, theologian, and political activist, was probably born at Niselrath (later Rathneestin), in the parish of Tallonstown, Co. Louth. His father was Roger Chamberlain, and five of his brothers fought in the Nine Years War…

Chamberlain, Sir Neville Francis Fitzgerald (1856–1944), soldier, inspector general of the RIC, and originator of snooker, was born 13 January 1856 at Upton Park, Upton, Buckinghamshire, England, only son of Lt-col. Charles Francis Falcon Chamberlain of the Indian army and Marion Ormsby…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Chambers, Robert Martin. View the original entry.

Chambers, John (1754–1837), printer and United Irishman, was born in Dublin in January 1754, the son of a wine merchant and his wife, Elinor, daughter of Charles Carter of Chapelizod, Co. Dublin. Apprenticed to a printer by his widowed mother (1 July 1767), he was printing on his…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Chambers, Robert Martin. View the original entry.

Chambers, Robert Martin (1865–1949), John Henry (‘Jack’) (1867–1937), and Charles Edward (‘Charlie’) (1873–1931), motor manufacturers, were second, third, and fifth sons of John and Ellen Chambers of Tullynaskeagh,…

Chambers, Sir William (1723–96), architect and writer, was born 23 February 1723 in Gothenburg, Sweden, of Scottish parents, eldest among two sons and three daughters of John Chambers (d. 1752), a merchant who had settled in Sweden, and Sara Chambers (née Elphinstone). Educated in…

Champfleur (de Champfleur), Walter (fl. 1482–98), was abbot of St Mary's Cistercian abbey in Dublin. He served as keeper of the seal on the death of the lord chancellor, William Sherwood (qv), bishop of Meath, on 3 December…

Chance, Arthur Joseph (1889–1980), orthopaedic surgeon, was born 15 November 1889 in Dublin into a medical family, third among four sons and one daughter of Sir Arthur Chance (qv), surgeon, and Martha Chance (née Rooney). He…

Chancellor, (Lilias) Betty (1910–84), actress, was born 9 January 1910 at 8 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, the younger daughter of John William Chancellor, a Dublin clockmaker, jeweller, and photographer, and Cicily Chancellor (née Granger). Educated in Dublin at Nightingale Hall and…

Chance, Patrick Alexander (1857–c.1930), solicitor and politician, was born at Chelsea, London, second son of Albert George Chance, engineer, and his wife, Elizabeth Mary, daughter of George Fleming of Dublin. He was educated in Dublin at the Catholic University School…

Chance, Sir Arthur Gerald (1859–1928), surgeon, was born 15 June 1859 in Dublin, one of at least two sons of Albert Chance, engineer, a Londoner, and Elizabeth Mary Chance (née Fleming) of Dublin. He was educated at the Catholic University medical school, Dublin, and was admitted…

Chapman, Mary Francis (1838–84), novelist, was born 28 November 1838 in Dublin, the daughter of Robert Chapman, of Walthamstow, Essex, who in 1838 was landing surveyor and surveyor of warehouses in Dublin port. When he was transferred to London the family moved with him to England,…

Chappell, William (1582–1649), protestant bishop of Cork and Ross, and provost of TCD, was born 10 December 1582 at Lexington, Nottinghamshire, England, and was educated at Mansfield Grammar School and Christ's College, Cambridge (…

Charles, John James (1845–1912), physiologist, was born 13 December 1845, probably at Loy House, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, eldest among seven sons of David H. Charles, doctor and JP at Cookstown, and Annie E. Charles (née Allen). He attended…

Charles of St Andrew, Blessed Father (1821–93), priest, was born John Andrew Houban 11 December 1821 in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands, fifth child among five sons and four daughters of Peter Joseph Houban, miller, and Jane Elizabeth Houban (née Luyten). At an early age…

Charles, Robert Henry (1855–1931), Biblical scholar, was born 6 August 1855 at Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, probably in Loy House, fifth of the seven sons of Dr David H. Charles and Annie E. Charles (née Allen). He attended Belfast Academy and won a scholarship to…

Charles, Sir (Richard) Havelock (1858–1934), 1st baronet, anatomist, was born 10 March 1858, sixth among seven sons of Dr David H. Charles and Annie E. Charles (née Allen), of Loy House, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. He adopted his father's profession, and was trained at…

Charlesworth, John Kaye (1889–1972), geologist, was born 3 January 1889, elder son of George Charlesworth of Burley, Leeds, Yorks. He was educated at the universities of Leeds, London, Breslau (from which he received his Ph.D.), and Munich;…

Charley, William (1826–90), linen bleacher, was born 11 April 1826, second of three sons of William Charley, a prominent linen bleacher, and Isabella Charley (née Hunter) of Seymour Hill, near Dunmurry, Co. Antrim. His father, one of the founders of the Northern Banking Company of…