Biographies A-Z

Hamilton, Sackville (1732–1818), politician and administrator, was born 14 March 1732 in Ireland, the third son of Henry Hamilton (1692–1743) and his wife, Mary Hamilton (née Dawson). Beginning a career of public service at the age of fourteen, he served as a clerk in the revenue…

Hamilton, Sir Frederick (c.1590–1647), soldier and founder of Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, was born in Scotland, son of Lord Claud Hamilton, one of the leaders of Scotland's catholics in the late sixteenth century, and his wife, Margaret, daughter of George Seton, 6th Lord…

Hamilton, Sir George (d. 1676), courtier and army officer, was the second son of Sir George Hamilton (d. 1679), 1st baronet, fourth son of James, 1st earl of Abercorn, and his wife Mary, the third daughter of Walter, Viscount Thurles, eldest son of Walter Butler, 11th earl of…

Hamilton, Sir Robert George Crookshank (1836–95), public servant, was born in Bressay, Shetland Islands, Scotland, son of Zachary Macaulay Hamilton (d. 1876), minister of the Church of Scotland, and his first wife, Anne (née Crookshank). He graduated …

Hamilton, Sir William Rowan (1805–65), mathematician, was born on the night of 3–4 August 1805 (the time was recorded as midnight) at his father's house in Dominick Street, Dublin. He was the second of five children who survived infancy, and the only son, of Archibald Hamilton (…

Hamilton, Thomas (1842–1926), presbyterian minister and president of QCB, was born 28 August 1842 in Belfast, one of two sons of Rev. David Hamilton, the first presbyterian minister of York Street congregation, Belfast, and moderator of the general assembly in Ireland (1854), and…

Hamilton (Tighe), (Marianne) Caroline (1777–1861), artist and memoirist, was the second daughter of William Tighe (1738–82), of Rossana, Co. Wicklow, landowner and MP for Athboy, Co. Meath (1761–76), and Sarah Tighe (née Fownes) (1743–1829). Her father was a friend of…

Hamilton, William (d. 1729), clergyman and author, was the second son of James Hamilton (1638–c.1689), archdeacon of Raphoe and chaplain to the earl of Arran (qv). James was at the siege of Derry, and took a prominent part in…

Hamilton, William (1755–97), cleric and geologist, was born 16 December 1755 in Derry city, son of John Hamilton, merchant, and Elizabeth Hamilton (née Hope). He entered TCD in 1771 and had a distinguished career; he graduated…

Hamilton, William Gerard (1729–96), chief secretary for Ireland, was born 28 January 1729 in London, the only son of William Hamilton (d. 1754), bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and his wife Helen, daughter of David Hay of Woodcockdale, Linlithgowshire, Scotland. After three years at…

Hamilton, William Henry (c.1771–1825), United Irishman, soldier, and journalist, was the son of Johnston Hamilton, attorney, of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. He received a good education and at a young age showed ability as an actor and writer. His talents attracted the…

Hamilton, William James (1903–75), anatomist, was born 21 July 1903 in Ballytober, Islandmagee, Co. Antrim, to Andrew Hamilton, master mariner, and Emeline Gertrude Hamilton (née Hunter). Educated at QUB, he obtained a…

Hamilton, Willoughby James (1864–1943), tennis, badminton, and soccer player, was born 9 December 1864 in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, seventh child among six sons and three daughters of the Rev. Canon William Alfred Hamilton, rector of Taney, and canon of Christ Church, Dublin, and…

Hammond, David Andrew ('Davy') (1928–2008), singer, folklorist, television producer and documentary maker, was born on 5 December 1928 in Miss Kells's nursing home on the Castlereagh Road in Belfast, the son of Leslie Hammond, a tram driver, and his wife Annie (née Lamont). His parents…

Hammond, Thomas Chatterton (1877–1961), anglican clergyman and controversialist, was born 20 February 1877 in Cork city, youngest son of Colman Mark Hammond, former lay missionary, retired naval officer, and farmer, and his second wife, Elizabeth (née Sergeant). The farm near Cobh…

Hampson, Sara E. (fl. 1860–1908), nurse, was probably born in England, but almost nothing is known of her life outside her Dublin career. She was one of the first members trained in the Nightingale School of Nursing at St Thomas's Hospital, London (opened 1860), and worked…

Hampton, Christopher (1552–1625), Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh, was born at Calais, France, son of John Hampton of Hampshire, clergyman, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, to which he was admitted as a scholar (1570). He became a fellow in 1574, receiving his…

Hancock, John (‘John Hancock II’) (1762–1823), quaker linen manufacturer, merchant, and philanthropist, was born in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, son of John Hancock, one of the Society of Friends, who had inherited a family business near Lisburn, and his second wife, Betty (née Hunter). John…

Hancock, Thomas (1783–1849), doctor, was born 26 March 1783 in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, son of Jacob Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock (née Phelps). The Hancocks, a quaker family, were noted for philanthropy and were prominent in the local linen industry. John Hancock (d. 1764) was his father's…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Hancock, John. View the original entry.

Handel, George Frederick (1685–1759), composer, was born 23 February 1685 in Halle, the son of Georg Händel (1622–97), a barber-surgeon to the court of the duke of Saxe-Weissenfels. From c.1692–3 the young Georg Friederich received a thorough musical education (keyboard…

Hand, John (1807–46), catholic priest and founder of All Hallows College, Dublin, was born 23 August 1807 at Bolies, Oldcastle, Co. Meath, eldest of six children of Luke Hand, farmer, and Margaret Hand (née Fox). He attended school at Oldcastle and then, intending to study for the…

Hanger, George (1751–1824), army officer, author, and eccentric, was born 13 October 1751 in Co. Londonderry, third son of Gabriel Hanger, 1st Lord Coleraine, MP and merchant, and Elizabeth Hanger (née Bond) of Cowbury, Hereford, England. Educated at Reading School and Eton, he…

Hanley, Ellie (1803–19), the ‘Colleen bawn ’, was born in Ballycahane, near Croom, Co. Limerick, daughter of Michael Hanley, farmer, and his first wife (née Connery). At 6 years old, she was adopted by her mother's brother, John Connery, ropemaker, also of Ballycahane. Connery's…

Hanley, Gerald (1916–92), writer, was born 17 February 1916 in Cork, younger son of Edward Hanley, merchant seaman, and Brigid Hanley (née Roche). His father had forsaken an established family printing business and legal studies to go to sea (and adding an ‘e’ to his original…