Biographies A-Z

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Walker, Joseph Cooper

Walker, Joseph Cooper (c.1762–1810), antiquary, was born in Dublin, son of Cooper Walker, merchant, and educated by Thomas Ball. He suffered from asthma, which prevented his attending college; instead he travelled to Italy, where he may have had some private tuition in Latin,…

Walker, Margaret

Walker, Margaret (1881–1966), missionary in Calabar, Nigeria, was born 16 March 1881 in Brighton, Sussex, England, fifth of six children – three sons and three daughters – of Col. Edward Walker and Mary Josephine Walker (née Woodhead). She was educated at the convent of the Holy…

Walker, Robin Andrew Day

Walker, Robin Andrew Day (1924–91), architect, was born 30 September 1924 at 1 Catherine Street, Waterford, eldest child of Andrew Ernest Walker, bank official, of ‘Nailima’, Bailey, Co. Dublin, and Eleanor Walker (née Croker). He was educated in Dublin at St Columba's College,…

Walker, Roger Chambers

Walker, Roger Chambers (1806–54), landowner, barrister, and antiquary, was born 29 October 1806, the only son of James Walker (d. 1853) of Rathcarrick, Co. Sligo, solicitor and landowner, and Letitia Walker (née Johnstone; d. 1835) from Co. Fermanagh. He had two sisters. The family…

Walker, Samuel B. (‘Sammy’)

Walker, Samuel B. (‘Sammy’) (1912–72), rugby footballer, was born 21 April 1912 at 174 Cupar Street, Belfast; the son of Samuel Walker, grocer, and Mary Isabella Walker (née Craig). Educated at the RBAI, he played his club…

Walker, Sir Samuel

Walker, Sir Samuel (1832–1911), 1st baronet, lord chancellor of Ireland, was born 19 June 1832 at Gore Port, Finea, Co. Westmeath, second of three sons of Capt. Alexander Walker, soldier, and Elizabeth Walker (née Elliott); his older brother was Gen.

Walker, William

Walker, William (1871–1918), socialist and trade unionist, was born 9 January 1871 at 35 McCluny St., Belfast, son of Francis Walker, shipyard boilermaker and latterly trade-union official, and Sarah Walker (née McLaughlin). After attending St George's national school, he was…

Walkington, Edward

Walkington, Edward (c.1652–1699), clergyman, was born in Limerick, son of William Walkington of Loghgur; nothing is known of his mother. He entered TCD in June 1669, graduated BA (1673),…

Wallace, Robert Hugh

Wallace, Robert Hugh (1860–1929), Orangeman, soldier and political activist, was born in English Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down, on 14 December 1860, son of William Nevin Wallace, solicitor and landowner, and his second wife, Catherine Mary (d. 1877), daughter of Francis Charles…

Wallace, William

Wallace, William (1791–1837), surgeon, dermatologist, and venereologist, was born in Downpatrick, Co. Down, son of a solicitor. He is arguably the leading figure in the history of dermatology in Ireland. Apprenticed (1808) to Charles Bowden, a Dublin surgeon, he transferred after…

Wallace, (William) Vincent

Wallace, (William) Vincent (1812–65), composer of operas, piano music, and songs, was born 11 March 1812 in Waterford city, son of Spencer (‘William’) Wallace, fifer in the North Mayo Militia, born in Ballina, Co. Mayo, in 1789, who had a long career in the British army (1804–26),…

Waller, Bolton Charles

Waller, Bolton Charles (1890–1936), journalist, soldier, public servant, peace activist and clergyman, was born on 3 May 1890, the only son of the Reverend Bolton Waller, rector of St Munchin, Limerick, and Jane Dorothea Waller (née Garfit). He had one younger sister,…

Waller, James Hardress de Warrenne

Waller, James Hardress de Warrenne (1884–1968), engineer and inventor, was born in Tasmania, tenth and youngest child of George Arthur Waller from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, and Sarah Waller (née Atkinson). After attending school in Hobart, he served a two-year pupilage with his brother…

Waller, John Francis

Waller, John Francis (1809–94), writer, was born 21 July 1809 in Limerick, third son of Thomas Maunsell Waller (1781–1843) of Finoe House, Co. Tipperary, and his wife Margaret (née Vereker). The Waller family came to Ireland with Cromwell…

Waller, Sir Hardress

Waller, Sir Hardress (1604–66), soldier, politician, and regicide, was the son and heir of George Waller of Groombridge, Kent, England, and his wife Mary, daughter of Richard Hardress. Waller's family was one of the wealthiest in Kent, and his cousin was the parliamentarian…

Wall, Joseph

Wall, Joseph (1737–1802), soldier and governor, was born in Dublin, eldest of three sons of Garrett Wall, farmer, from Derryknavin, near Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. (Laois); his mother's name is unknown. Educated locally, he entered TCD (1752…

Wall, Maureen

Wall, Maureen (1918–72), historian, was born 27 June 1918 in Seacor, Glenswilly, Co. Donegal, one of eight daughters and one son of Peader MacGeehinn from nearby Fintown; her mother was a native of Glenswilly. She went to Treankeel national school, where her parents were the only…

Wall, Mervyn Eugene Welply

Wall, Mervyn Eugene Welply (1908–97), novelist, playwright, broadcaster, and civil servant, was born 23 August 1908 at 27 Palmerston Rd, Dublin, the third eldest of three sons and one daughter of Thomas Patrick Wall, barrister, and Beatrice Agnes Wall (née Morrissey), both of Co.…

Wallop, Sir Henry

Wallop, Sir Henry (c.1531–1599), administrator, was eldest son of Sir Oliver Wallop of Farleigh, Hampshire, England, and his wife Bridget Pigott of Beachampton, Buckinghamshire. At an unknown date, he married Katherine, daughter of Richard Gifford of King's Somborne,…

Walls, Arthur J.

Walls, Arthur J. (1926–2000), company director, was born 25 May 1926 in Dublin, second child among four sons and one daughter of Arthur Walls, civil servant with the revenue commissioners, and Marie Walls (née Murray). He was educated at O'Connell Schools, Dublin, and graduated…

Wall, Seán

Wall, Seán (1882–1921), revolutionary, was born 1 February 1882 near Bruff, Co. Limerick, one of at least three sons of Thomas Wall, small farmer, and Deborah Wall (née Lynch). The family had a tradition of Fenian sympathy and activity. He attended Bruff national school, but his…

Walmsley, James Andrew

Walmsley, James Andrew (1912–2008), Indian civil servant and Dublin businessman, was born 4 October 1912 at The Green, in the townland of Aughnahoory, near Kilkeel, Co. Down, eldest of four boys of James Charles Walmsley, a farmer, and Margaret ('Peggy') Walmsley (née Fairbairn),…

Walpole, Edward

Walpole, Edward (1706–84), MP and chief secretary for Ireland (1737–41), was born in Frogmore, Berkshire, England, second son of Sir Robert Walpole, politician and landowner, and his first wife Catherine (née Shorter). Edward attended Eton College before entering Lincoln's Inn (…

Walsh, Albert Jasper

Walsh, Albert Jasper (1815–80), doctor, was born 15 April 1815 in Dundrum Castle, Co. Dublin, second among at least three sons and one daughter of John Walsh, merchant and Prussian consul in Dublin, and Sarah Walsh (née Hayes). He was educated at Feinaiglian School, Dublin, before…

Walsh (Bhailís, Wallis, Uailis), Francis (Proinsias)

Walsh (Bhailís, Wallis, Uailis), Francis (Proinsias) (1654–1724), lexicographer and Franciscan priest, was born in the Fingal area of north Co. Dublin. Nothing is known of his family or early education. He entered the Franciscan order and was ordained (1677) in the Irish Franciscan…