Biographies A-Z

Davidson, Samuel (1806–98), biblical scholar, was born probably in September 1806 in Kellswater, Co. Antrim, son of Abraham Davidson, farmer, and Margaret Davidson (née Mewha), who had at least one other child, a daughter. Samuel attended a local school, for whose master, James…

Davidson, Sir Samuel Cleland (1846–1921), inventor and businessman, was born 18 November 1846 in Ballymachan, Co. Down, the youngest child of five sons and three daughters of James Davidson, a farmer with flour-milling interests in nearby Belfast, and Mary Davidson (née Taylor). He…

Davies, Christian (alias ‘Mother’ Ross, Kit ‘Kitty’ Cavenaugh) (c.1667–1739), female soldier and adventurer, was apparently born in Dublin, daughter of a brewer and maltster named Cavenaugh . It is difficult to establish the truth about her colourful career; most accounts…

Davies (Davis), Sir Paul (d. 1672), clerk of the privy council and secretary of state, was the fourth but second surviving son of John Davies of Kill, Co. Kildare; nothing is known of his mother. He inherited his father's considerable holdings in Kildare, Donegal, Enniskillen, and…

Davies, Moya Llewelyn (1881–1943), political activist, was born Mary O'Connor in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, on 25 March 1881, third of five daughters of James O'Connor (qv) (1836–1910), journalist and nationalist MP, and his first wife, Mary.…

Davies, Rowland (1649–1721), clergyman and journalist, was son of Rowland Davies, gentleman farmer, and Mary Davies (née Scudamore; widow of Thomas Smith) of Gill Abbey near Cork. He was taught by Mr Scragg of Cork city before entering TCD…

Davies, Sir John (1569–1626), lawyer and poet, was baptised at Tisbury, Wiltshire, 16 April 1569. His father, whose name is usually given as John, but sometimes as Edward, Davies (d. 1580), was of Welsh descent, and his mother, Mary (née Bennett; d. 1590), came from a Wiltshire…

Davies, Stan Gébler (1943–94), journalist, was born 16 July 1943 in Wales, son of Max Davies, furniture manufacturer, and his wife Olive, sister of the writer Ernest Gébler (1915–98). His protestant father was apparently of Russian Jewish origin, and his maternal grandfather,…

Davin, Maurice (1842–1927), athlete and first president of the Gaelic Athletic Association, was born 29 June 1842 in Deerpark, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, eldest of five children surviving infancy of John Davin, farmer and river haulage contractor, and Bridget Davin (née Walsh…

Davin, Nicholas Flood (1843–1901), journalist, writer, and politician, was born 13 January 1843 in Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, the only son of Nicholas Davin, doctor, and Eliza Davin (née Lane). Although he later constructed a past that seems at odds with the truth, it appears that he…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Davin, Maurice. View the original entry.

This is a co-subject for the entry on Davin, Maurice. View the original entry.

Davin, William (1890–1956), trade unionist and politician, was born 19 February 1890 at Grogan, Rathdowney, Queen's Co. (Laois), son of Timothy Davin, farmer, and Ellen Davin (née Costigan). He was educated at Rathdowney national school, at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, and later…

Davis (Davies), John (d. 1667), politician and merchant, was the eldest son of Ezekiel Davis of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, whose family had come from Gustana, north Wales, in the early sixteenth century. Deeply involved in the commercial and public life of the town, he appeared…

Davis, Derek (1948–2015), broadcaster, was born on 26 April 1948 in Bangor, Co. Down, one of two children to Frederick Davis, an art dealer and owner of an art and framing shop in Belfast, and his wife Vera (née Algar), an artist, who also helped run the family business. Davis’s family…

Davis, Eugene (1857–97), journalist, poet, and nationalist, was born 23 March 1857 in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, the only son of John Davis, teacher of classics, formerly renowned as a private tutor to the local gentry, and his second wife, Ellen (née Murphy). He had three stepsisters…

Davis, Francis (1810–85), poet, was born 7 or 17 March 1810 in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, or in Belfast, son of Francis Davis, farmer's son from near Hillsborough, Co. Down, and Jane Davis (née McAfee), possibly from near Bushmills, Co. Antrim. His father impulsively enlisted in the…

Davis, Thomas Osborne (1814–45), Young Irelander, poet, and journalist, was born 14 October 1814 at Mallow, Co. Cork, youngest of three sons and one daughter of James Thomas Davis, military surgeon, and his wife Mary (née Atkins). Family and education James…

Davis, William (1812–73), painter, was born in August 1812 in Dublin. Nothing is known of his family except that he was the son of a solicitor, and was originally intended to follow his father's profession; however, he chose instead to become an artist and received his training at…

Davitt, Cahir (1894–1986), judge, was born 15 August 1894 in Co. Dublin, second son and fourth child among six children of Michael Davitt (qv) of Straide, Co. Mayo, and Mary Davitt (née Yore) of Michigan, USA. The family lived in the…

Davitt, Michael (1950–2005), poet, was born Joseph Michael Davitt on 20 April 1950 in Mayfield, Cork city, the third child of four children (three girls and a boy) of Joe Davitt, a bus driver and native of Mallow, Co. Cork, and his wife Hilda (néae Parker), originally from Stoke-on-…

Davitt, Michael (1846–1906), radical nationalist, was born 25 March 1846 in Straide, Co. Mayo, to Martin Davitt and Catherine Davitt (née Kielty), small farmers. Martin had been an ardent O'Connellite and Ribbonman. Both parents were pious catholics who spoke Irish at home, though only…

Davy, Edmond (Edmund) (1785–1857), chemist, was born at Penzance, Cornwall, the second son of William Davy. He was a cousin of Sir Humphry Davy (1779–1829), a noted chemist, pioneer of electrochemistry, discoverer of the composition of alkali metals, and inventor (1815) of the Davy…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Davy, Edmond (Edmund). View the original entry.

Davy, Eugene O'Donnell (1904–96), rugby player and stockbroker, was born 26 July 1904 in Dublin, the eighth of nine surviving children of Thomas Davy (d. 1923), a Dublin publican, originally from Newtown, Ballymurreen, Co. Tipperary, and Alice Davy (née O'Donnell; d. 1955) of Annameedle…