Fry, Oliver (1773–1868), major of Royal Artillery, Freemason, Orangeman, and diarist, was born 17 June 1773 at Frybrook, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, third son of Henry Fry, magistrate, and his second wife, Catherine (née Mills). He was educated by private tutors before entering TCD (July 1790), although he later admitted that he never applied himself to his studies. Leaving college without graduating (May 1793), he went home to help his brother defend the family residence during the Defender disturbances of that year. He was a member of the force of Boyle Volunteers that defeated a large group of Defenders at Crossna and subsequently defended the residence of Lord Kingston (1726–97) at Rockingham. During this latter skirmish he captured the leader of the Defenders, and was later presented with a commission in the Roscommon militia by Lord Kingston.
In April 1794 he was attached to the Royal Irish Artillery, in which he was later commissioned as a lieutenant (October 1794). During the next few years he was stationed in various posts in Ireland and frequently acted as a recruiting officer. An active Freemason since 1792, he joined the Orange Order in 1799, and used his contacts with both societies when seeking recruits throughout his career. At the outbreak of the 1798 rebellion he was stationed in Carrickfergus and was active over the succeeding months in seizing weapons and rebels. He served as ADC to Col. Lucius Barber, commanding artillery, at the battle of Ballinahinch (13 June 1798). In 1799 he was stationed in Dundalk and witnessed the disbandment of the 5th (Royal Irish) Dragoons, owing to the regiment's infiltration by rebels. After the act of union the Royal Irish Artillery was amalgamated with the Royal Regiment of Artillery and, as the number of officers was greatly reduced, Fry was lucky to retain his commission. Promoted second captain (October 1801), he was posted to Limerick to command the artillery detachment there. In March 1805 he was made a full captain and later served as barrack-master of Carrickfergus (1823–6), Ballinasloe (1826–34), Galway (1834–9), and Limerick (1839–48). Retiring from active service in February 1848, he settled in Dublin. He was promoted major, on the retired list, in November 1854.
In 1822 Fry wrote a retrospective account of his early life, and thereafter kept a very detailed diary. While some of the accounts of his military service were somewhat exaggerated, his diary remains an invaluable source of information on the major events of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, including the agrarian disturbances of the 1820s–40s, the repeal movement, the cholera epidemic of 1831, and the Great Famine. Other more colourful events were also described, such as the visits of Queen Victoria, the Crystal Palace exhibition of 1851, and the Dublin earthquake of 1852. He died 28 April 1868 at his Dublin home, Pembroke House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery.
He married (September 1806) Mary Phibbs of Lisconny, Co. Sligo. They had sixteen children, nine of whom died in infancy or soon after birth.