Biographies A-Z

Rice, Sir Stephen (1637?–1715), lawyer and chief baron of the exchequer, was the son and heir of Edward Rice (d. a.1671) of Dingle, Co. Kerry. Rice's immediate background and the origins of his family are somewhat uncertain, although the surname was recorded in Dublin and…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Rice, Thomas Spring. View the original entry.

Rice, Thomas Spring (1790–1866), 1st Baron Monteagle , politician, was born 8 February 1790 in Limerick, only son of Stephen Edward Rice (d. 1831), lawyer and landowner of Mount Trenchard, Co. Limerick, and his wife Catherine, heiress of Thomas Spring of Castlemaine, Co. Kerry. Stephen…

Rice, Vincent (1875–1955), barrister and politician, was born 21 April 1875, second son of Michael Rice of Dundalk, Co. Louth, and his wife Anna Gormley. Having graduated BA (RUI), he entered King…

Richard II (1367–1400), king of England, was second son and heir of Edward, prince of Wales, and his wife Joan, daughter of Edmund, earl of Kent, and ascended the throne after the death of his grandfather Edward III (June 1377). His minority was marked by unrest culminating in the…

Richard of York (1411–60), duke of York , earl of March and Ulster , lieutenant of Ireland, was son of Richard, earl of Cambridge, grandson of Edward III, and his wife Anne, daughter of Roger Mortimer (qv), 4th earl of March, and was the…

Richardson, Edward Gerald (‘Eddie’) (1903–87), sportsman and politician, was born 15 April 1903 in Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, son of James Richardson, farmer, and Catherine (née McNamara). The family lived at Moybane, Crossmaglen, and he was educated locally. He was Ulster cycling…

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

Richardson, John (c.1669–1747), clergyman, was born in Co. Tyrone, one of the five sons and four daughters of William Richardson, gentleman, possibly at his father's home at Tullyreavey, near Cookstown. His father's means were comparatively modest and Richardson trained for the…

Richardson, John Grubb (1813/15–1890), linen manufacturer and philanthropist, was second son among seven sons and three daughters of James Nicholson Richardson and Alicia Richardson (née Grubb); he was a grandson of Jonathan…

Richardson, Jonathan (1756–1817), linen bleacher and merchant, was born near Lisburn, Co. Antrim, a younger son of John Richardson and Ruth Richardson (née Hogg); the family were members of the Society of Friends. Jonathan, who had at least one elder brother, left home as a boy to…

Richardson, William (1740–1820), cleric, geologist, agriculturist, and pamphleteer, was probably born at Castleroe, near Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, the only son of Charles Richardson (d. 1743) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Hercules Heyland of Coleraine. He was educated at…

Richards, Shelah (1903–85), actress and director, was born 23 May 1903 in Dublin, the daughter of John William Richards, solicitor, and Adelaide Richards (née Roper), a once militant suffragette. Educated at Alexandra College, Dublin, and a convent in Paris, she was introduced to…

Rich, Barnaby (Barnabe) (c.1542–1617), soldier and author, was probably a native of Essex, England. He became a soldier c.1563 and volunteered to serve with the huguenots in the French wars of religion, taking part in the siege of Le Havre in that same year.…

Richey, Alexander George (1830–83), lawyer, historian, and editor, was born 22 October 1830 in Dublin, only son of Alexander Richey (d. 1852), land agent, of Mount Temple, Coolock, Co. Dublin, and his wife, Matilda (daughter of Dodwell Browne of Co. Mayo), aunt of the 3rd earl of…

Richey, James Ernest (1886–1968), geologist, was born 24 April 1886 at Desertcreat rectory, Co. Tyrone, son of John Richey, Church of Ireland rector, and Susanna Richey (née Best). He spent his childhood in Desertcreat and was educated at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, and at…

Rich, Mary (1624/5–1678), countess of Warwick , noblewoman, was the seventh daughter and thirteenth child of Richard Boyle (qv), 1st earl of Cork, and his second wife, Catherine (d. 1630), daughter of Sir…

Riddell, Charlotte Eliza Lawson (1832–1906), novelist, was born on 30 September 1832 at the Barn, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, the youngest daughter of James Cowan, flax and cotton spinner and high sheriff of Antrim, and his English wife Ellen (née Kilshaw). Her father died in 1851…

Ridelesford, Walter de (d. 1200?), Cambro-Norman baron of lands surrounding Castledermot, Co. Kildare, and holder of a speculative grant of lands within the royal demesne south of Dublin. Whilst the ultimate origin of the family name would seem to be Flemish (de Ruddervoorde),…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Ridelesford, Walter de. View the original entry.

Rider, Job (1761–1833), clockmaker and inventor, was born in Broomhill in the parish of Westbury, Shropshire, England. He was almost certainly the Job Rider, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Rider, who was baptised 21 August 1761 in Westbury parish. More than one branch of the Rider…

Rider (Ryder), John (1562–1632), Church of Ireland bishop of Killaloe and lexicographer, was born at Carrington, Cheshire, son of Edward de Rythre of Carrington and his wife Emily Periam. In 1576 he entered Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated …

Ridge, John (1590–1637?), puritan divine, was born in Oxford; nothing is known of his parents. He matriculated at St John's, Oxford, on 16 June 1610 and graduated BA on 23 May 1616, having already been ordained a deacon on 16 March 1611 and…

Ridgeway, Sir (Joseph) West (1844–1930), army officer and under-secretary for Ireland, was born on 16 May 1844 at High Roothing, Essex, where his father, Joseph Ridgeway, was rector; he was the second son of his father's marriage to Eliza Letitia Chambers. He stated later in a…

Ridgeway, Sir Thomas (1565?–1632), 1st earl of Londonderry, planter and treasurer of Ireland, was born at either Torwood or Tor Abbey, Devonshire, England, heir of Thomas Ridgeway of Tor Mohun, and his wife Mary Southcote of Bovey Tracey, both of Devonshire. After matriculating (…