History, Archaeology and Antiquarianism

Dreyer, John Louis Emil (1852–1926), astronomer and historian, was born 13 February 1852 in Copenhagen, Denmark, into a distinguished Danish military family, third son of Lt.-gen. J. C. F. Dreyer, minister of war and the marine, and Ida Nicolene Margarethe Dreyer (née Rangrup). He…

Dub-dá-leithe (d. 1064), abbot of Armagh, belonged to the Clann Sínaig (who had controlled the abbacy for many generations), and was son of Máel-Muire (qv) (d. 1020) and a grandson of Eochaid grandson of Flann/Flannacán; he also had some…

Duffin, Emma Sylvia (1883–1979), nurse, diarist and welfare worker, was born 8 November 1883 in Belfast, fourth daughter in a family of seven daughters and two sons of Adam Duffin (qv) and Maria Duffin (née Drennan). The family was well-to-do…

Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan (1816–1903), politician and journalist, was born in Monaghan town on 12 April 1816, the sixth and youngest child of John Duffy (d. 1827), a shopkeeper and former United Irishman, and his wife, Anne (née Gavan). Formative years After the premature deaths of his…

Duhigg, Bartholomew (c.1751–1813), political activist, antiquarian, and barrister, was the fourth son of Bartholomew Duhigg, ‘gent.’, of Ballyhigh, Co. Limerick, who seems to have been a Roman catholic who conformed in 1725. Bartholomew the younger entered the Middle…

Du Noyer, George Victor (1817–69), antiquarian, geologist, and artist, was probably born in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, the eldest son of Louis Victor du Noyer, a teacher of French and music, and his wife, Margaret du Bédat, who ran a school for young ladies. Both parents were of Huguenot…

Edwards, Robert (‘Robin’) Walter Dudley (1909–88), historian, was born 4 June 1909 in Dublin, elder son of Walter Edwards (1862–1946), a minor civil servant from Worcestershire, England, and Bridget Teresa McInerney (1871–1956), a nurse from Co. Clare. When his parents, a quaker and a…

Ellmann, Richard (1918–87), literary historian and critic, was born 15 March 1918 in Highland Park, Michigan, USA, son of James Isaac Ellmann and Jeanette Ellmann (née Barsook). Ellmann was educated at Highland Park school and Yale University, where he was awarded a…

Ervine, St John Greer (1883–1971), Ulster dramatist, critic, and biographer, was born John Greer Ervine on 28 December 1883 in Belfast, son of William Ervine, printer, and Sarah Jane Ervine (née Greer), who may have been a deaf-mute. Ervine's father died soon after his birth. He…

Esposito, Mario (1887–1975), medievalist and Hiberno-Latinist, was born 7 September 1887 in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, third child and only son of Michele Esposito (qv), professor of music in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and Natalia…

Falkiner, Caesar Litton (1863–1908), lawyer and historian, was born in Dublin on 26 September 1863, the second son in the family of three sons and four daughters of Sir Frederick Richard Falkiner (qv) and his first wife,…

Falls, Cyril Bentham (1888–1971), military historian and journalist, was born 2 March 1888 in Dublin, elder of two sons of Charles Fausset Falls (1860–1936) and his wife Clare (née Bentham), who also had a daughter. His father was a prominent Enniskillen solicitor and a leading…

Ferguson, James Frederic (1807–55), record agent and antiquary, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. His father, Jacques Frédéric Jaquemain from Cambrai, had fled from France to London in 1793, assuming the name of Ferguson. In 1799 he took his wife to America, and worked as…

Ferguson, Lady Mary Catherine (1823–1905), antiquarian and biographer, was born 13 September 1823 in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, eldest child and only daughter of Robert Rundell Guinness (1789–1857), founder of the banking firm of Guinness Mahon, and Mary Anne Guinness (née Seymour; d…

Ferrar, John (1742–1804), printer and historian, was born in 1742 in Limerick city, the only son of William Ferrar (sometimes spelt Farrier), bookbinder and printer, and Rose Ferrar (née Paine or Payne). The first member of this family to settle in Limerick was William Ferrar, a cavalry…

FitzGerald, Desmond John Villiers (1937–2011), Knight of Glin , scholar, conservationist, and fine arts dealer and collector, was born 13 July 1937 in Cambridge Square, London, the only son and youngest of three children of Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, of Glin Castle…

Fitzgerald, John (1825–1910), poet, painter, antiquary, and wood-carver, was born 18 June 1825 at Hanover Street, Cork, son of John Fitzgerald and Martha Mary Deacy. He was educated at Fr Mathew's (qv) school, Blackamoor Lane, and…

Fitzgerald, John Fraunceis (1791–1854), hereditary knight of Glin and scholar, was born 28 June 1791, only son of John Bateman Fitzgerald (1756–1803), knight of Glin and colonel of Limerick volunteers, and Margaretta Maria Fitzgerald (née Gwyn; d. 1801) of Combe Florey, Somerset,…

Fitzgerald, Lord Walter (1858–1923), soldier and antiquary, was born 22 January 1858 in Dublin, fourth son of Charles William Fitzgerald, 4th duke of Leinster, and his wife Lady Caroline, third surviving daughter of the 2nd duke of Sutherland. Educated initially in Cheam, Surrey, he…

FitzGibbon, Abraham Coates (1823–87), railway engineer and antiquary, was born 23 January 1823 at Mount Eagle, Kilworth, Co. Cork, second son of Lt Philip FitzGibbon, RN, and Elizabeth FitzGibbon (née Coates) of Killinure, Co. Wicklow. Educated at the…

Fitzpatrick, William John (1830–95), historian, was born 31 August 1830 in Thomas St., Dublin, son of John Fitzpatrick, tallow chandler and merchant. He began his education at a local Church of Ireland school before attending Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare. His father left…

Flann Mainistrech (‘of the monastery’) (d. 1056), lector (head of the monastic school) of Monasterboice, and one of the most distinguished poets and historians of pre-Norman Ireland, belonged to the Cianachta of Brega. His father is identified as Echthigern son of Óengus; his…

Flattisbury, Philip (fl. 1500–1519), compiler and antiquary, was from a Co. Kildare family and was an adherent of the earls of Kildare. He is remembered for two works completed for the earls in the early 1500s. In 1503 he commenced work on a collection of documents dealing…

Fleming, Patrick (1599–1631), Franciscan friar and scholar, was born on 17 April 1599 at Bel atha Lagan, Clonkeen, Co. Louth, the son of Gerald Fleming and Elizabeth Cusack of Cushintown. He was baptised Christopher and was a pious and hard-working child. At the age of thirteen he…

Flood, William Henry Grattan (1859–1928), musician and historian, was born 1 November 1859 at Lismore, Co. Waterford, eldest son of William Flood and his wife Catherine (née Fitzsimon). His mother gave him his first musical training, and he continued his musical studies during his…