Biographies A-Z

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Waterhouse, Gilbert

Waterhouse, Gilbert (1888–1977), academic, was born at Hipperholme, Yorkshire, on 15 July 1888, son of Harold Waterhouse of Tarleton, Lancashire. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School, renowned for its rigorous teaching of modern languages, and St John's College, Cambridge,…

Waterhouse (Waterhous), Sir Edward

Waterhouse (Waterhous), Sir Edward (1535–91), chancellor of the Irish exchequer, was born at Helmstedbury, Hertfordshire, youngest son of John Waterhouse of Whitechurch, Buckinghamshire, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Henry Turner of Blunt's Hall, Suffolk. Having commenced his…

Waterman, Dudley Mark

Waterman, Dudley Mark (1917–79), archaeologist, was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, of Somerset stock. On leaving school he worked in an architect's office in Southampton, where he developed his skill in drawing. Several great archaeologists lived in the vicinity at the…

Watson, Edward

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

Watson, James

Watson, James (c.1740–1790), mezzotint engraver, was born in Dublin but there are few details of his family or early life; his older brother was William Watson (d. 1765), painter of portraits and historical subjects. Educated at the Dublin Society schools, James trained as…

Watson, John

Watson, John (d. 1769), bookseller and bookbinder. Nothing is known of his early life. He married (21 April 1722) in St Audoen's church, Dublin, Elizabeth (d. 1753), daughter of Peter Lawrence (d. 1709), bookseller and freeman since 1697. Three months later he petitioned for freedom…

Watson, Samuel

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

Watson, Sir Charles Moore

Watson, Sir Charles Moore (1844–1916), imperial soldier and administrator, was born 10 July 1844 in Dublin, second son of William Watson, civil engineer and JP, of Dublin, and Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Moore Morgan (rector of Dunlavin, Co…

Watson, William

Watson, William (1804–83), engineer, was born in Dublin on 23 February 1804, the only surviving son of William Watson, a bookseller who was descended from a Worcestershire family. He entered TCD on 3 July 1820, graduating…

Watson, William

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

Watts, George

Watts, George (1772–1858), veterinary surgeon and horse breeder, was born in England, possibly in Devon or in Yorkshire; nothing certain is known of his family background, though there is a possibility that he was related to Richard Watt (1751–98) of Bishop Burton, near Beverley…

Watts (Lynch), Elizabeth

Watts (Lynch), Elizabeth (d. 1794), printer, stationer, and ‘bookseller to the courts of law’, whose origins are unknown, succeeded her first husband Richard Watts (d. November 1762) printer and bookseller, with whom she had four sons and a daughter. She married secondly (14…

Watts, Robert

Watts, Robert (1820–95), presbyterian scholar, was born 10 July 1820 in Moneylane, near Dundrum, Co. Down, youngest among fourteen children; nothing further is known of his family background. He attended RBAI for a time,…

Watts, William Arthur ('Bill')

Watts, William Arthur ('Bill') (1930–2010), scientist and provost of TCD, was born on 26 May 1930 in Upper Mayor Street, in Dublin's East Wall area, his maternal grandparents' home. His mother, Bess Dickinson, had moved to Dublin from England as a child, and in 1925 married William…

Wauchope (Vauchop, Vanschop), Robert

Wauchope (Vauchop, Vanschop), Robert (c.1500–1551), papal archbishop of Armagh, was son of Gilbert Wauchope of Niddrie Marischal, Midlothian, Scotland, and was educated in Paris from about 1515, where he received his bachelor of arts and his

Wayman, Patrick Arthur

Wayman, Patrick Arthur (1927–98), astronomer, was born 8 October 1927 in Bromley, Kent, England, one of twin boys and an elder son of Lt-col. Lewis John Wayman and Mary Wayman (née Palmer). Educated at the City of London School (1937–45) and Emmanuel College, Cambridge (1945–8), he…

Weaver, John

Weaver, John Andrew (1923–2013), soldier and physician, was born on 20 December 1923 at Ballytrim, Killyleagh, Co. Down, the elder of two sons of William Weaver, a farmer, and his wife Emily, a former bank official. The family had farmed flax for generations at Ballytrim, but moved to…

Webb, Alfred John

Webb, Alfred John (1834–1908), radical reformer and nationalist, was born 10 June 1834 at 160 Great Brunswick St. (later Pearse St.), Dublin, eldest son of quaker parents, Richard Davis Webb, printer, and Hannah Webb (née Waring). His parents were deeply involved in campaigns for…

Webb, David Allardice

Webb, David Allardice (1912–94), botanist and marine biologist, was born 12 August 1912 in Dublin, only son of George Randolph Webb (d. 1929), mathematician, philosopher, and fellow of TCD, and his wife Ella (née Ovenden) (…

Webb, George

Webb, George (1581–1642), Church of Ireland bishop of Limerick, was the son of Hugh Webb, rector of Bromham in Wiltshire. He matriculated at University College, Oxford, on 7 April 1598, and graduated from Corpus Christi College as BA on 13…

Webb, Isabella (‘Ella’) Gertrude Amy

Webb, Isabella (‘Ella’) Gertrude Amy (1877–1946), paediatrician, was born 16 October 1877 in Dublin, elder daughter of the Rev. Charles Thomas Ovenden (1846–1924), dean of St Patrick's cathedral, Dublin, and his wife Isabella Mary Robinson. She was educated at Alexandra College,…

Webb, Maria

Webb, Maria (1804–73), philanthropist and author, was born at Peartree Hill, near Lisburn, Co. Antrim, youngest child among two sons and one daughter of Thomas Lamb and his wife Dorothy, both members of the Religious Society of Friends. She was largely self-educated. In 1828 she…

Webb, Richard Davis

Webb, Richard Davis (1805–72), printer and philanthropist, was born in the Cornmarket, Dublin, where his parents had a linen business; he was eldest among seven sons of James Webb and Deborah Webb (née Forrest). The Webbs and Forrests were members of the Society of Friends;…

Weeks, James Eyre

Weeks, James Eyre (1718/19–1775), cleric, poet, and miscellaneous writer, was born in Cork city, son of James Eyre Weeks, described as a gentleman. He was educated at Dr Mulloy's school in Cork, entered TCD as a sizar (June 1735), and…

Weingreen, Jacob

Weingreen, Jacob (1908–95), Hebrew scholar, was born 21 January 1908 in Manchester, England, son of Isidore Weingreen, salesman (born in Krakow, Poland, later residing in Manchester, Belfast, Dublin, and New York) and Sarah Weingreen (née Axelrad), seamstress, born in Jassy-…