Biographies A-Z

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 (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 (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') (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 (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 (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 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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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-…

Weir, Andrew John (‘Jack’) (1919–2000), presbyterian minister and missionary, was born 24 March 1919 at Moukden in China, the son of Irish presbyterian missionaries, the Rev. Andrew Weir, who came from Claggan, near Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, and his second wife Margaret (née Grills…

Weir, Isaac O'Neill (‘Ike’) (1867–1908), bareknuckle boxer, was born 17 January 1867 in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, son of Jacob Weir, weaver, and Catherine Weir (née Neil). As a young man he showed an aptitude for many different sports and activities, being described as an excellent jockey…

Wejchert, Alexandra (1921–95), sculptor, was born 16 October 1921 in Cracow, Poland, daughter of Tedeusz Wejchert, who ran a shipping business in Gdansk. In 1939 she went to study architecture in Warsaw University and there experienced the German invasion of Poland, which haunted…

Wejchert, Andrzej (1937–2009), architect, was born 21 May 1937 in Gdańsk, in the semi-autonomous Free City of Danzig, sandwiched between the Polish Corridor and the German province of East Prussia, son of Tadeusz Wejchert, who ran a shipping business, and Irena Wejchert (née Mojgis).…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Wejchert, Andrzej. View the original entry.

Welch, Robert Anthony ('Bob') (1947–2013), academic, poet, critic and writer, was born on 25 November 1947 in Cork City, to Patrick Welch, a factory worker at the Dunlop Rubber Company, and Kathleen Welch (née Kearney). He was educated by the Presentation Brothers at Coláiste…

Welch, Robert John (1859–1936), photographer, was born 22 July 1859 in or near Strabane, Co. Tyrone, second of six children and second of the three sons of David Welch and Martha Welch (née Graham), daughter of a local shoemaker, who was aged 17 at the time of her marriage in 1857.…

Weld, Isaac (1774–1856), writer and vice-president of the RDS, was born 15 March 1774 in Dublin, eldest son of Isaac Weld (d. 1824), official in the Irish customs, and his first wife, Elizabeth (née Kerr). Isaac Weld senior was a noted bon viveur who was given his lucrative position…

Wellesley, Walter (d. 1539), Augustinian priest and bishop of Kildare, was the younger son of Sir Walter Wellesley and Ismay, daughter of Sir Richard Plunkett of Rathmore. He probably received his early education at the priory of SS Peter and Paul, Trim, Co. Meath, before going to…

Wellesley (Wesley), Arthur (1769–1852), 1st duke of Wellington , soldier and politician, was born 1 May 1769 at Mornington House, 6 Merrion Street, Dublin, the third surviving son of Garret Wesley (qv) (1735–81), 1st earl of Mornington, and…