History, Archaeology and Antiquarianism

Gywnn, Denis Rolleston (1893–1971), journalist and historian, was born 6 March 1893, third son among four sons and two daughters of Stephen Lucius Gwynn (qv), writer and MP, and his wife and first cousin Mary Louise, daughter of…

Hackett, Francis (1883–1962), novelist, historian, and journalist, was born 21 January 1883 at 34 Patrick St., Kilkenny city, one of six sons and three daughters of John Byrne Hackett, a Kilkenny-born doctor, and Bridget Hackett (née Doheny), daughter of a prosperous farmer of…

Hadden, George (1882–1973), medical doctor and historian, was born 9 October 1882 at Richmond Terrace, Wexford town, son of George Hadden, draper and alderman, and Hannah Mary Hadden (née Perrot). The Haddens, a methodist family, were established in Wexford town during the nineteenth…

Haliday, Charles (1789?–1866), banker, bibliophile, and antiquary, was the second of four sons of William Halliday (1754?–1830), who was a native of Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, and an apothecary in Arran Quay, Dublin. The eldest son was…

Hamilton, Anthony (Antoine) (1646?–1720), Jacobite, soldier and man of letters, was probably born in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, third son of Sir George Hamilton and his wife Mary Butler, third daughter of Thomas, Viscount Thurles, and a sister of…

Hamilton, Lord Ernest (1858–1939), politician and writer, was born 5 September 1858 at Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, seventh son and thirteenth child of James Hamilton (qv), 2nd marquess and 1st duke of Abercorn, and his wife, Jane Russell,…

Hanmer, Meredith (1543–1604), cleric and historian, was born at Porkington, Shropshire, England, son of Thomas Hanmer. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he was appointed to a chaplaincy in 1567. He graduated BA (November…

Hanson, Richard Patrick Crosland (1916–88), Church of Ireland bishop and scholar of historical and contemporary theology, and his brother (Anthony) Tyrrell Hanson (1916–91), clergyman and theologian, were born 24 November 1916 in London, twin sons of Sir Philip…

Harbison, Sheelagh Helen (1914–2012), medieval historian, was born in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, on 2 September 1912, the only daughter and youngest of three surviving children, to Frederick William MacSherry , bank manager, and his wife Helen (née MacDermott). After Sheelagh was born…

Hardiman, James (1782–1855), historian and librarian, was born in February 1782 at Westport, Co. Mayo, only son of Tomás (or Richard) Ó hArgadáin or Hartigan, a small estate owner, originally from Co. Meath, and his wife Marcella or Margery (née Hall). Hardiman, according to his friend…

Hardy, Francis (1751–1812), biographer and MP, was son and heir of Henry Hardy, esq., of Dublin. He was educated by Thomas Ball of Dublin before entering TCD in 1766 (BA, 1771) and the Middle Temple…

Harold, Francis (c.1617–1685), Franciscan priest and historian, was born in Limerick. Though he claimed to be of Hiberno-Norse royal stock, nothing is known of his immediate family. His mother was a member of the Wadding family of Waterford and his father may have been…

Harrington, Niall Charles (1901–81), soldier, writer, and broadcaster, was born 23 January 1901 at 6 Cavendish Row, Dublin, one of the eight children of Timothy Charles Harrington (qv), MP, barrister at law, and his wife…

Harris, Walter (1686–1761), antiquarian, was born in May 1686 in Mountmellick, King's Co. (Offaly), second son of Hopton Harris, who was described as a gentleman and served as lieutenant of the local Williamite militia in 1690–91. He entered the famous Kilkenny School in 1702 and…

Hart, Peter (1964–2010), historian, was born on 11 November 1964 in St John’s, Newfoundland, the second of three children of David Hart, a psychologist, and his wife Anne (neé Hill), a librarian and author. He attended Booth Memorial High School and enrolled in Memorial University of…

Haverty, Martin (1809–87), journalist and historian, was born 1 December 1809 in Mayo, younger half-brother of the artist Joseph Haverty (qv). Nothing is known of their early life. Aspiring to the priesthood, Martin was educated at the…

Hayden, Mary Teresa (1862–1942), historian and women's rights campaigner, was born 19 May 1862 in Merrion Square, Dublin, only daughter of Thomas Hayden (qv), physician and later vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Mary…

Haydn, Joseph Timothy (1788/1793–1856), newspaper editor and compiler of reference works, was born in Lisbon in 1788 or 1793, the son of Thomas Haydn, a protestant Irish expatriate. He was educated in Portugal before he moved to Dublin in 1818 to found The Stage, an…

Hay, Edward (1761?–1826), catholic activist and historian, was born in Ballinkeele, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, eldest of four sons of Harvey Hay (d. 1796), a wealthy member of the catholic gentry, and Catherine Hay (née Fergus). Educated in France and Germany, he returned to…

Hayes, Richard Francis (1882–1958), medical doctor, nationalist, historian, and film censor, was born in Bruree, Co. Limerick, son of Richard Hayes, local teacher, and Margaret Hayes (née Ruddle). Attending Bruree national school with his direct contemporary…

Hayes, Richard James (1902–76), librarian, was born 26 June 1902 in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, son of Richard James Hayes, bank manager, and Katherine Hayes (née Whelan). His early childhood and youth were spent in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. He was a student at Clongowes Wood College,…

Hayman, Samuel (1818–86), Church of Ireland clergyman and antiquarian, was born at Youghal, Co. Cork, on 27 July 1818, son of Matthew Hayman (1789–1867) of South Abbey, Youghal, and his wife, Helen (née Hill; d. 1850). The Haymans, who came to Ireland in 1629, claimed an…

Hayward, (Harold) Richard (1892–1964), author and singer, was born 25 October 1892, one among five sons and a daughter of Walter Scott Hayward and Louise Ivy Hayward. The family was English, but settled in Larne, Co. Antrim, and Richard attended Larne grammar school. After his marriage…

Healy, John (1841–1918), catholic archbishop of Tuam and historian, was born in Ballinafad, Co. Sligo, on 14 November 1841, second and eldest surviving child of the four sons and three daughters of Mark Healy and his wife, Mary (née Gallagher), who were both schoolteachers. As a…

Healy, Maurice Francis (1887–1943), barrister and author, was born at 16 Mountjoy Place, Dublin, on 16 November 1887, the eldest of the three children of Maurice Healy (qv), a Cork solicitor and later an MP, and his wife and cousin,…