Biographies A-Z

Ridgeway, Sir William (1853–1926), classical scholar, was born 6 August 1853, youngest son of the Rev. John Henry Ridgeway, of Ballydermot, King's Co. (Offaly), and Marianna Ridgeway, daughter of Samuel Ridgeway of Aghanvilla, King's Co. His parents may have been cousins; his family…

Ridgeway, William (1765–1817), barrister and law reporter, was born in Dublin, eldest son of William Ridgeway, merchant, and Dorothy Ridgeway (née Tandy). Educated at TCD, he graduated BA (1787),…

Rigby, Richard (1722–88), MP and chief secretary for Ireland, was born in February 1722 at Mistley Hall, Essex, England, the only son of Richard Rigby of Paternoster Row, London, and Mistley Hall, and Anne Rigby (née Perry). He inherited the family estate while still a minor on…

Riley, John (c.1817–p.1850), soldier, was born in Clifden, Co. Mayo. Details of his early life are scarce, but it is believed that he enlisted in the British army and served with the 66th Foot in Canada before deserting and travelling to America. In 1842/3 he was…

Ring, Christy (1920–79), hurler, was born Nicholas Christopher Ring on 30 October 1920 in Kilboy, near Cloyne, Co. Cork, second youngest among three sons and two daughters of Nicholas Ring, gardener, and his wife Mary. In his childhood the family moved to Spittal Street in Cloyne…

Ringland, John (1816–76), obstetrician, was born 21 May 1816 in Dublin, son of Arthur Hill Ringland, commissariat officer. His mother's maiden name was Gelston. He was educated at the Rev. J. P. Huddart's school before entering TCD and…

Rinuccini, GianBattista (1592–1653), archbishop of Fermo and papal nuncio to the confederate catholics of Ireland, was born 15 September (NS) 1592 in Rome, son of Camillo Rinuccini, a Florentine patrician, and his wife Virginia Bandini, sister of the important Cardinal Ottavio…

Rishworth, Frank Sharman (1876–1960), civil engineer and university professor, was born at Ballymoate Lodge, eldest son of John Rishworth of Tuam, Co. Galway, and Hannah Rishworth (née Sharman). He was educated at the Ranelagh School, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and at…

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

Ritchie, William (1756–1834), shipbuilder, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and had a shipbuilding practice at Saltcoats. In March 1791 he visited Belfast and, seeing the potential of the port, returned on 3 July 1791, with ten men, apparatus, materials, and his younger brother…

Rivers, Bartholomew (c.1730–1809), merchant, banker, and developer of Tramore, Co. Waterford, seems to have been the eldest son in the family of five sons and three daughters of Michael Rivers, a merchant at Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, but very likely originally from Dublin…

Rivers, Elizabeth Joyce (1903–64), artist, was born 5 August 1903 in the family home, Bonks Hill House in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England, the daughter of Thomas Alfred Rivers, nurseryman, and his wife Mabel (née Hall). Her family had run a renowned nursery plant operation from…

Roach, Hal (1927–2012), comedian and writer, was born John Roach on 4 November 1927 at 88 Manor Street, in Waterford city centre, one of at least five children (three boys and two girls) of Thomas Roche, a labourer, and his wife Catherine (née Farrell). While attending school at the…

Roach, John (1813–87), shipbuilder in America, was born John Roche 25 December 1813 at Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, son of Patrick Roche (occupation unknown) and Abigail Roche (née Meany). Educated locally, he emigrated at the age of 16 to the USA, where he settled at Howells, New Jersey…

Roantree, William Francis (1829–1918), Fenian, was born in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, son of James Roantree, butcher and auctioneer. He had several brothers, some of whom were later involved in the Fenian movement. Details of his early life are scarce and it is believed that he trained…

Robartes, John (1606–85), 2nd Baron Robartes of Truro and 1st earl of Radnor, politician, soldier, and lord lieutenant of Ireland, was born in Cornwall, the only son and heir of Richard Robartes, first Baron Robartes of Truro, and his wife, Frances (née Hender), of Boscastle, Cornwall.…

Robbins, Francis (‘Frank’) (1895–1979), trade unionist, was born 5 July 1895 at 3 Upper Buckingham St., Dublin, fifth among nine children of William Robbins, sawyer, and Mary Robbins (née Whelan). Educated locally, he started work (1908) in Barrington's soap works in King's Inns St…

Robb, John Hanna (1873–1956), politician and barrister, was born 4 November 1873 in Clogher, Co. Tyrone, second son among ten children of the Rev. James Gardner Robb (d. 1891), presbyterian minister, and Martha Robb (née Hanna). As a child he spent five years in Toronto, Canada,…

Robb, Nesca Adeline (1905–76), author, was born 27 May 1905 in Belfast, daughter of Charles Robb, managing director of J. Robb & Co., and his wife Agnes, daughter of Dr Wilberforce Arnold. She was educated at Richmond Lodge (of which she later wrote a record) and went up to…

Roberts, Frederick Charles (‘Fred’) (1905–88), soccer player, was born 2 January 1905 in Montrose Place, Belfast, son of Frederick Charles Roberts snr, boilermaker, and Agnes Roberts (née Parker). Although he lived in Ballymacarrett, the heartland of Glentoran football club in east…

Roberts, Frederick Sleigh (1832–1914), 1st Earl Roberts, field-marshal, was born 30 September 1832 at Cawnpore, India, youngest son of Gen. Sir Abraham Roberts, East India Company (EIC) army, and his second wife, Isabella, widow of Maj. Hamilton Maxwell and daughter of Abraham Bunbury…

Roberts, George (1873–1953), actor, publisher, and poet, was born 8 January 1873 in Clarkill, Kilmegan, Castlewellan, Co. Down, son of Oliver Goldsmith Roberts, a warehouse manager, and Margaret Roberts (née Gray). On leaving school he worked briefly in the linen trade, and later in the…

Roberts, John (1712–96), architect, was born in Waterford city, son of Thomas Roberts (d. 1775), an architect and builder of Welsh extraction, and Sarah Roberts (née Bowles), both of Waterford. His mother died young, leaving him and his three sisters to the care of their father,…

Roberts, Michael (1817–82), mathematician, was the eldest son of Captain Michael Roberts, of Kilmoney Abbey near Carrigaline, Co. Cork, and Elizabeth Roberts (née Townsend Stewart). His twin brother was William Roberts (1817–83), also a mathematician and scholar and fellow of…

Robertson, Charles (c. 1760–1821), miniature painter, was born in Dublin into a family of jewellers and miniaturists on Ormond Quay; perhaps that of Alexander Robertson, who died at Ormond Quay in July 1768. He lived and possibly trained with his elder brother Walter, who was…