Biographies A-Z

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Perry, Patrick Joseph (‘Paddy’)

Perry, Patrick Joseph (‘Paddy’) (1909–83), handball player, was born 19 March 1909 in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, one of four children of Henry Perry, labourer, and Kate Perry (née Harte) of St Joseph's Terrace, Boyle. Educated locally, he grew up playing handball in Johnny Casey's ball-alley…

Perry (Shaw), Alice Jacqueline

Perry (Shaw), Alice Jacqueline (1885–1969), engineer and Christian Scientist, was born in Wellpark, Co. Galway, one of five daughters and one son of James Perry, engineer and county surveyor for Galway, originally from Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, and Martha Perry (née Park), from…

Perry, Thomas

Perry, Thomas (c.1744–1818), violin-maker, was of huguenot descent and is believed to have been a relation of Claude Pierray, the distinguished violin-maker in Paris in the first part of the eighteenth century. His family emigrated to Ireland, where they changed their…

Persse, William

Persse, William (c.1728–1802), Volunteer leader, was elder of two sons of Robert Persse, of Roxborough, Co. Galway, and his wife Elizabeth (née Parsons) of Birr, King's Co. (Offaly). The family estate, acquired under the Stuarts by his great-great-grandfather Dean Dudley…

Pery, Edmond Henry

Pery, Edmond Henry (1758–1845), 1st earl of Limerick, and politician, was born 8 January 1758, the only son of William Cecil Pery, clergyman and later bishop of Limerick (1784–94) and Baron Glentworth, and his first wife, Jane Pery (née Walcott). He was the nephew and heir of…

Pery, Edmond Sexten

Pery, Edmond Sexten (1719–1806), 1st Viscount Pery , speaker of the Irish house of commons, was born 8 April 1719 at Limerick, eldest son of the Rev. Stackpole Pery, clergyman, of Stackpole Court, Co. Clare, and Jane Pery (née Twigg). His brother was William Cecil Pery, later…

Peter, Richard Milliken

Peter, Richard Milliken (1849–1909), rugby and swimming pioneer and administrator, was born in Dublin, a member of the Peter family after whom Peter Place, off Adelaide Road in Dublin, was named; no other family details are known. He was educated at Blackheath school near London,…

Peters, Matthew William

Peters, Matthew William (1741/2–1814), painter and clergyman, was probably born at Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England, one of three children of Matthew Peters (1711–c.1776), a garden designer and agricultural writer, of Belfast, and Elizabeth Peters (née Younge), a…

Peterson, Walter Ernest

Peterson, Walter Ernest (1883–p.1921?), hockey international, was born 7 November 1883 in Ulster Terrace, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, youngest among at least six sons and one daughter of Nicholas George Peterson, public auditor and accountant, originally from Cork, and Mary…

Petit, William

Petit, William (William Parvus) (d. 1213), justiciar of Ireland, was a vassal of Hugh de Lacy (qv), and probably came with him to Ireland in the early 1170s. Between 1184 and 1186 he was granted his fief of Magheradernon, with its…

Petrie, George

Petrie, George (1790–1866), artist, antiquary and collector of Irish traditional music, was born on 1 January 1790 (his gravestone has 1789) in Dame Street, Dublin, the only child of James Petrie, portrait painter, of Dublin, and Elizabeth Petrie (née Simpson) of Edinburgh, Scotland.…

Petrie, James

This is a co-subject for the entry on Petrie, George. View the original entry.

Petrie, Sir Charles Alexander

Petrie, Sir Charles Alexander (1895–1977), 3rd baronet of Carrowcarden , historian, and journalist, was born on 28 September 1895 at New Heys, Sandfield Park, West Derby, Liverpool, England, second of two sons of Sir Charles Petrie (1852–1920), baronet, businessman, leading…

Petrus de Hibernia (Peter of Ireland)

Petrus de Hibernia (Peter of Ireland) (fl. c.1200–p.1260), philosopher and teacher at Naples, probably of Anglo-Irish descent, was known as gemma magistrorum, the ‘gem of teachers’. He received his education probably at Oxford and Paris and may also have…

Petty, John Henry

Petty, John Henry (1765–1809), Earl Wycombe , 2nd marquess of Lansdowne , politician, was born 6 December 1765, eldest son of William Petty (qv), politician, 2nd earl of Shelburne and later 1st marquess of Lansdowne, and his first wife…

Petty, Sir William

Petty, Sir William (1623–87), physician, scientist, and administrator, was born 26 May 1623 in Hampshire, England, third child of Anthony Petty, engaged in the textile trade, and his wife, Francesca. Petty may subsequently have exaggerated the obscurity of his origins in order to…

Petty, William

Petty, William (1737–1805), 2nd earl of Shelburne and British prime minister, was born 2 May 1737 in Dublin, eldest son of John Petty (formerly Fitzmaurice), 1st earl of Shelburne, and Mary Petty (née Fitzmaurice). Embittered by a miserable childhood, he later blamed it for many…

Peyton, Patrick Joseph

Peyton, Patrick Joseph (1909–1992), Holy Cross priest and radio and television evangelist (‘the Rosary Priest’), was born 9 January 1909 in Carracastle, near Ballina, Co. Mayo, sixth of the nine children of John Peyton (1868–1934), county road repair worker, and Mary Gillard Peyton (…

Phaire (Phayre), Robert

Phaire (Phayre), Robert (1619?–1682), soldier and regicide, was a baptist and probably the son of the Rev. Emmanuel Phaire, of Kilshannig, Co. Cork. At the outbreak of the 1641 rebellion, he possibly joined the troop of cavalry raised by

Phelan, Anastasia (Mary Gerard)

Phelan, Anastasia (Mary Gerard) (1872–1960), religious superior and educator, was born 18 January 1872 in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, to John Phelan, farmer, and Mary Phelan (née Dallon). Baptised Anastasia, she was educated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Waterford…

Phelan, Denis

Phelan, Denis (1785–1871), doctor and poor law commissioner (1838–43), was born in New Ross, Co. Wexford. In c.1800 he took courses for a medical degree at the Apothecary's Hall, Dublin, before doing further studies in London. After qualification he got employment as visiting…

Phelan, Edward Joseph

Phelan, Edward Joseph (1888–1967), civil servant, was born 25 July 1888 at Tramore, Co. Waterford, son of Thomas Edward Phelan, master mariner. He was educated at St Francis Xavier College, Liverpool, and the University of Liverpool (BA,…

Phelan, Jim (James Leo)

Phelan, Jim (James Leo) (1895–1966), writer, activist and tramp, was born in Inchicore, Dublin, the third child and eldest son of five surviving children (three daughters and two sons; two others died in childhood) of James Phelan, ironworker at the Inchicore railway works, and his wife…

Phelan, Margaret Mary (‘Daisy’)

Phelan, Margaret Mary (‘Daisy’) (1902–2000), local historian, was born 22 December 1902 at 8 William St., Kilkenny, second child of the marriage of Richard Duggan , businessman (proprietor of the Monster House), and his second wife, Henrietta Fitzgibbon of Castlerea, Co. Mayo,…

Phelan (O'Phelan), James

Phelan (O'Phelan), James (c.1621–1695), catholic bishop of Ossory, was born in Kilkenny, son of Daniel Phelan and his wife Catherine Dulany. His early life remains obscure. Supposedly descended from the Fitzpatricks of Upper Ossory (whose escutcheon he retained as his…