Biographies A-Z

Humphrys, William (1794–1865), engraver, was born in Dublin. Nothing more of his early life is known prior to his departure in his youth for Philadelphia. There he trained as an engraver under George Murray and was principally employed engraving designs for banknotes, for which his…

Hungerford, Margaret Wolfe (née Hamilton ) (c.1852–1897), popular fiction writer, was born in Mileen, Ross Carbery, Co. Cork, the elder daughter of the Rev. Fitzjohn Stannus Hamilton, rector and vicar choral of St Faughnan's cathedral in Ross Carbery, and his wife Sarah (…

Hunter, James (1863–1942), presbyterian fundamentalist, was born in Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. He was educated at the RBAI and QCB, receiving a first-class honours…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Hunter, Mercy. View the original entry.

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

Hunter, Mercy (1910–89), artist, was born 22 January 1910 in Belfast and christened Martha Saie Kathleen, one of the youngest of four daughters of the Rev. William Hunter, presbyterian minister; there was also at least one son. His wife was a Russian woman, Alice Beyer; on the day…

Hunter, Richard (‘Dicky’) Henry (1882/5–1970), anatomist and circus impresario, was born 15 May 1882/5 in Berbice, British Guiana (Guyana), son of parents (whose names remain unknown) from Portglenone, Co. Antrim, and was educated at Ballymena, Co. Antrim, at the Model School and…

Hunter, Robert (fl. 1752–1803), portrait painter, was born in Ulster; nothing is known of his parents. The earliest evidence for his artistic activity comes with an advertisement (4 November 1752) in Faulkner's Dublin Journal for engravings after his portrait of…

Hunt, Hugh (1911–93), theatre director and academic, was born 25 September 1911 in Camberley, Surrey, England, son of Capt. C. E. Hunt of the Indian army. Educated at Marlborough College, he spent time at the Sorbonne and Heidelberg before entering Magdalen College, Oxford.…

Huntington, Robert (1637–1701), provost of TCD and bishop of Raphoe, was the second of four sons of Robert Huntington, curate of Deerhurst in Gloucestershire. He was educated at Bristol grammar school and matriculated at Merton College, Oxford, in 1654, graduating…

Hunt, John (1957–2004), arts administrator, was born 15 April 1957 in Co. Limerick, and in infancy was adopted by John Durell Hunt (qv), art dealer and collector, medievalist and archaeologist, and his wife Gertrud ('Putzel') Franziska…

Hunt, John Durell (1900–76), art expert, dealer, collector, medievalist, and archaeologist, was born 28 May 1900 at 28 St John's Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, England, eldest of at least five children (two sons and three daughters) of John Hunt (c.1870–1929), architect, and…

This is a co-subject for the entry on De Vere (Hunt), Sir Aubrey. View the original entry.

Hurley, Charles (Charlie) (1893–1921), Volunteer organiser and commandant west Cork brigade 1920, was born 20 March 1893 at Baurleigh, Kilbrittain, Co. Cork, fifth child of three sons and four daughters of John Hurley, farmer, from Baurleigh and his wife, Mary Fleming from Barryroe…

Hurley, Michael Anthony (1923–2011), ecumenist and theologian, was born on 10 May 1923 in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, the eldest of four children (two boys and two girls) of Michael Hurley, a small businessman, and his wife Johanna (née Foley), who kept a guest house. He won a…

Hurley, Richard (1932–2011), architect, was born in the family home at Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, on 8 June 1932, the sixth child of four daughters and three sons of James Hurley, a professor of rural science in St Patrick's teacher training college in Drumcondra, Dublin, and…

Hurst, Brian Desmond (1895–1986), film director, was born Hans Moore Hawthorn Hurst in east Belfast on 12 February 1895, seventh child (of five sons and three daughters) of Robert Hurst, shipyard metalworker, and his first wife, Esther (née Hawthorn). The family moved between Belfast…

Hurwitz, Lewis (Louis) John (1926–71), neurologist, was born 9 February 1926, the youngest of the four sons and two daughters of Barnet Harris (‘Barney’) Hurwitz, linen merchant and president of the Belfast Jewish community, and Cana Hurwitz (née Clein), of Cork. Barney received…

Hussey, Philip (1713–83), painter, was born at Cloyne, Co. Cork, son of a clothier. His parents (names unknown) separated, and he spent his early life at sea where, Pasquin records, he was shipwrecked five times. He developed a taste for the fine arts and began to paint, taking as…

Hussey, Samuel Murray (1824–1913), land agent, was born at Bath, Somerset, on 17 December 1824, the fifth son in the family of five sons and four daughters of Peter Bodkin Hussey of Farrinakilla, near Dingle, Co. Kerry, and his wife Mary (d. 1857), daughter of Robert Hickson of the…

Hussey, Thomas (1746–1803), catholic bishop of Waterford and Lismore, was born in Harristown, Co. Meath. Educated at Seville, he was ordained to the priesthood on 25 March 1769 and was immediately appointed one of the chaplains to the Spanish ambassador in London. Hussey's time in…

Huston, John (1906–87), film director, was born 5 August 1906 in Nevada, Missouri, USA, only child of Walter Huston (1884–1950), an actor whose mother was possibly from Ireland, and his wife Rhea Huston (née Gore), a journalist. Diagnosed with heart and kidney disease as a child, he…

Hutcheson, Francis (1694–1746), philosopher, was born 8 August 1694 in Drumalig, Co. Down, second among three sons of John Hutcheson – at the time presbyterian minister of Downpatrick – and his first wife, the daughter of an army officer, James Trail of Killyleagh. The Hutcheson…

Hutchins, Ellen (1785–1815), cryptogamic botanist, was born 17 March 1785 in Ballylickey, Co. Cork, one of the youngest among twenty-one children of Thomas Hutchins (d. 1787) and Elinor Hutchins (née Hutchins); two daughters and four sons survived to adulthood. The family's status was…

Hutchinson, Christopher Hely- (1767–1826), soldier and MP, was born 5 April 1767 in Dublin, fifth son of the Rt Hon. John Hely-Hutchinson (qv), politician and provost of TCD, and his…