Geoghegan, Patrick M.

Herbert, Victor (1859–1924), composer, was born 1 February 1859 in Dublin, son of Edward Herbert, artist, and Fanny Herbert (née Lover). Victor's father died when he was 3, and he was initially raised by his grandfather, the novelist and composer …

Heron, Sir Richard (1726–1805), 1st baronet, chief secretary for Ireland, was the youngest child of four sons and two daughters of Robert Heron of Newark, Nottinghamshire, and his wife, Elizabeth Heron (née Brecknock). He was educated for a legal career and worked as an attorney…

Hiffernan, Paul (1719–77), playwright and journalist, was born in, or near, Dublin, but little is known about his early life. Educated in a classical seminary in Dublin, he was sent to Montpellier to study for the priesthood, and he claimed that it was there that he made the…

Higinbotham, George (1826–92), journalist, politician, and chief justice in Victoria, Australia, was born 19 April 1826 in Dublin, the sixth son of Henry T. Higinbotham, a merchant, and his wife, Sarah Higinbotham (née Wilson). He was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon, then…

Hitchcock, Reginald Ingram Montgomery (‘Rex Ingram’) (1893–1950), film director,was born 18 January 1893 at 58 Grosvenor Square, Rathmines, Dublin, the elder of two sons of Francis Ryan Montgomery Hitchcock, clergyman and Donnellan lecturer at Trinity College Dublin (1912), and his wife…

Hitchcock, Robert (c.1744–1809), actor, playwright, and theatre historian, was born in England, the son of John and Elizabeth Hitchcock. He first came to prominence in 1769 as a member of the Theatre Royal, Norwich, with his wife, Sarah Webb. Less successful than Sarah (who…

Hoban, James (c.1762–1831), architect, was born in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, son of Edward Hoban and Martha Hoban (née Bayne). From 1779 he was educated at the Dublin Society’s School of Drawing in Architecture where he studied under…

Hobart, John (1723–93), politician, 2nd earl of Buckinghamshire and lord lieutenant of Ireland, was born 17 August 1723, eldest surviving son of John Hobart, British MP and later 1st earl of Buckinghamshire, and his first wife Judith, daughter and coheir of Robert Britiffe.…

Hobart, Robert (1760–1816), 4th earl of Buckinghamshire , politician and chief secretary for Ireland, was born 6 May 1760, the eldest surviving son of George Hobart, British MP and later 3rd earl of Buckinghamshire, and his first wife, Albinia, daughter and co-heir of Lord Vere…

Holmes, Robert (1765–1859), lawyer, was born 8 November 1765 in Dublin, eldest son of Hugh Holmes, merchant, from Chapelizod, Co. Dublin (formerly a painter in Belfast), and Mary Holmes (née Smith). He entered TCD in 1782, was a scholar…

Howard, Frederick (1748–1825), 5th earl of Carlisle and lord lieutenant of Ireland, was born 28 May 1748, the youngest, but only surviving, son of Henry Howard, 4th earl of Carlisle, and his second wife, Isabella, daughter of Baron Byron of Rochdale. Educated at Eton and King's…

Howley, Henry (c.1775–1803), revolutionary, was born at Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, where he trained as a carpenter; nothing else is known of his early life. A large, aggressive man, he became involved in radical activity in the 1790s and took part in the 1798 rebellion. He…

Huston, John (1906–87), film director, was born 5 August 1906 in Nevada, Missouri, USA, only child of Walter Huston (1884–1950), an actor whose mother was possibly from Ireland, and his wife Rhea Huston (née Gore), a journalist. Diagnosed with heart and kidney disease as a child, he…

Inglis, Charles (1734–1816), clergyman and loyalist in America, was born at Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal, youngest of three sons of the Rev. Archibald Inglis, clergyman at Glen and Kilcar; there are no details of his mother. Orphaned at the age of 11, he was prevented by lack of…

Ireland, John (1838–1918), archbishop of St Paul, Minnesota, was born 11 September 1838 in Burnchurch, Co. Kilkenny, eldest son among two sons and four daughters of Richard Ireland, artisan, and Judith Ireland (née Naughton). In 1850 he emigrated to America with his family,…

Irvine, Sir William Hill (1858–1943), premier and chief justice of Victoria in Australia, was born 6 July 1858 at Dromalane, Newry, Co. Down, sixth among seven children of Hill Irvine, farmer and linen manufacturer, and his wife Margaret, a sister of…

Jackson, Joseph Devonsher (1783–1857), judge and politician, was born 23 June 1783 in Co. Cork, eldest son of Strettel Jackson, carrier, of Peterborough, Co. Cork, and Mary Jackson (née Cossens). Educated locally by an evangelical protestant minister, he entered…

Jackson, Richard (c.1720–1787), lawyer and politician, was born at Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, the only son among three children of Richard Jackson, a wealthy merchant, and Elizabeth Jackson (née Clarke). He entered TCD (1737),…

Jeffereyes (Jeffries, Jeffereys), Arabella (c.1734–c.1810), landowner and social radical, was born Arabella Fitzgibbon , eldest daughter among three daughters and four sons of John Fitzgibbon and Elinor Fitzgibbon (née Grove); her younger brother was…

Jennings, Patrick Alfred (1831–97), politician in Australia and premier of New South Wales 1886–7, was born 20 March 1831 at Newry, Co. Down, son of Francis Jennings, a Roman catholic linen merchant, and Mary Jennings (née O'Neill). Educated at Newry School, and in Exeter, Devonshire,…

Jocelyn, Percy (1764–1843), disgraced bishop, was born 29 November 1764, third of four sons of Robert, 1st earl of Roden (qv), and his wife Anne, née Hamilton. Educated at TCD, he graduated…

Johnson, Guy (c.1740–88), American loyalist, was born in Ireland, son of John Johnson, landowner, and Catherine Johnson (née Nangle). His uncle Sir William Johnson (qv) was an influential figure in colonial America, and Guy…

Johnstone, John Henry (1749–1828), actor and singer, was born 1 August 1749 in Co. Kilkenny, son of a quartermaster in an Irish regiment of horse; there are few details about the rest of his family. His father died when he was a child and he was supported by his mother, who sold…

Johnstone (Johnston), Charles (c.1719–c.1800), writer, was born at Carrigogunnell, Co. Limerick, son of Thomas Johnstone (or Johnston) and his wife, née Sharpe. Educated at the local diocesan school, he entered TCD but…

Jones, Frederick Edward (1759–1834), theatre manager, was born at Vesington, Co. Meath, into a prosperous protestant family; no other details of his background are available. Educated in Ireland and then on the Continent, he returned to Ireland c.1793 to run the Music Hall…