Biographies A-Z

Hughes, Francis (1956–81), republican paramilitary and hunger-striker, was born 28 February 1956 at Tamlaghtduff, near Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry, one of ten children of Joseph Hughes, a farmer with 20 acres, and his wife, Margaret (née McElwee). A brother, Oliver, was an Irish…

Hughes, (Frederick) Desmond (1919–92), air vice-marshal, was born 6 June 1919 in Donaghadee, Co. Down, only son and second child of Frederick Cairns Hughes, director of a Belfast flour milling company, and Emily Hilda Kathleen Hughes (née Hunter). He was educated at Campbell College…

Hughes, Hector Samuel James (1887–1970), barrister and politician, was born 14 August 1887 in Dublin, eldest son of Alexander Wilson Hughes, a law clerk, of Beach House, Sandymount, and Elizabeth Anne Hughes (née Dempsey). Educated as a boy chorister at the diocesan school of St…

Hughes, Henry George (1810–72), lawyer and politician, was born (according to his tombstone) 10 August 1810 in Capel St., Dublin, eldest son of James Hughes, solicitor, and his wife, Margaret, daughter of Trevor Stannus Morton, a Dublin solicitor. A catholic, he was educated at a…

Hughes, Herbert (1882–1937), musician, critic, and folksong arranger, was born 16 March 1882 at 23 Vicinage Park, Belfast, son of Frederick Patrick Hughes, commercial traveller (later senior partner in Hughes, Dickson & Co, flour millers), and Mary Hughes (née McClean). Both…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Hughes, William. View the original entry.

Hughes, James Joseph (‘Séamus’) (1881–1943), broadcaster, was born in Dublin, one of three sons and three daughters of James Hughes, baker and trade-unionist of Rhode, Co. Offaly, and Elizabeth Hughes (née Doyle) of Dublin. His mother died in 1887; his father's second marriage…

Hughes, John (1865–1941), sculptor, was born 27 January 1865 at 21 Portland Place, Dublin, one of five children of Patrick Hughes, carpenter, and Mary Anne Hughes (née Grace). From 1872 to 1879 he attended the Christian Brothers’ O'Connell School, North Richmond St., Dublin, after which…

Hughes, John (d. 1840s?), bookseller, United Irishman, and informer, was the son of James Hughes, who seems to have been a farmer in the hinterland of Belfast. Through his mother, whose maiden name was also Hughes, he was related to Samuel…

Hughes, John Joseph (1797–1864), third resident catholic bishop and first archbishop of New York, was probably born 23 June 1797 (being baptised on 24 June) at Annaloghan, near Clogher, Co. Tyrone, third son among seven children of Patrick Hughes, farmer and weaver from Dernaved…

Hughes, Norman Campbell (1915–95), plastic surgeon, was born 15 May 1915 in Bangor, Co. Down, the son of William Edwin Hughes, a manager of the Royal Insurance Company in Belfast, and Elizabeth Knox Hughes (née Campbell). Educated at Bangor grammar school and…

Hughes, Pat (1924–99), prospector and businessman, was born Patrick Joseph Hughes on 14 March 1924 near Keady, Co. Armagh, the only son of three children of Charles Hughes, a building contractor of Keady, and his wife Mary. When he was around 10, his catholic family moved to Newry,…

Hughes, Peter (1878–1954), politician, was born in Dundalk. A merchant in Dundalk, and initially a home rule nationalist, he entered politics in his early twenties when he replaced his father on the Dundalk board of guardians, and in 1905 was elected to Dundalk urban district…

Hughes, William (1920–2006), businessman, was born in Dublin on 16 November 1920, the first child of James Hughes (see below), of Hazelbrook farm, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, and his wife Estelle (née Porter). He represented the third generation of his Church of Ireland family's…

Hull, Edward (1829–1917), geologist, was born 21 May 1829 in Antrim town, eldest son of John Dawson Hull, a Church of Ireland curate; no details are known of his mother. He was educated at TCD (BA…

Hull, Eleanor Henrietta (Ní Choill, Eibhlín) (1860–1935), Celtic scholar and author, was born 15 January 1860 in Manchester, daughter of Edward Hull (qv), geologist, originally of Co. Antrim, and Mary Catherine Henrietta Hull (née Cooke), from…

Hull, Sir William (c.1573–1643), pirate collaborator and settler, was one of two surviving sons and five daughters of Henry Hull, a merchant and ship owner of Exeter, and his wife Julianna (née Spurway). Henry maintained a family tradition by serving as mayor of Exeter in 1605…

Humbert, Jean-Joseph Amable (1767–1823), French general, was born 22 August 1767 in the parish of Saint-Nabord, outside Remiremont in Lorraine, France (later in the Vosges department). He was the eldest of the six children of Jean-Joseph Humbert, a farmer and trader, and his wife,…

Hume, Abraham, (‘Billy M'Cart’) (1814–84), clergyman and antiquarian, was born 9 February 1814 at ‘Beechfield’, Corcreeny, Hillsborough, Co. Down, the younger of the two sons of Thomas F. Hume, farmer, and Margaret Hume (née Simpson). His birthplace had once been the manse of his…

Hume, Gustavus (1732–1812), surgeon and property developer, was born August 1732, son of Robert Hume of Lisanober, Co. Cavan; no other details of his family are known. He visited Paris (1756) before his appointment as surgeon (1758–1812) to Mercer's Hospital, Dublin, where he was a…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Hume, Gustavus. View the original entry.

Humphreys, David (1843–1930), parish priest and agrarian agitator, was one of three sons and four daughters born to William Humphreys, of Murroe, Co. Limerick, large tenant farmer (75 acres), and his wife (née Enright) of Croom, Co. Limerick. Baptised on 18 June 1843, he was…

Humphreys, Richard (‘Dick’) (1896–1968), revolutionary and motoring enthusiast, was born 23 April 1896 (not 19 April, as incorrectly stated on his birth certificate) in Limerick city, eldest among three children of Dr David Humphreys, physician and surgeon, of Glenstal, Co.…

Humphreys, Sighle (Mary Ellen; Sighle Bean Uí Dhonnchadha) (1899–1994), republican activist, was born 26 February 1899 in Limerick city, only daughter of David Humphreys, medical doctor, and his wife, Nell (Mary Ellen; née Rahilly), sister of…

Humphries, Carmel Frances (1909–86), zoologist, was born 3 June 1909 in Waterford city, the second youngest of three daughters and two sons of William Francis Humphries, an engineer, and Annie Humphries (née Palmer). Educated at the Ursuline convent, Waterford, and Loreto College, St…