Religion

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…

Wesley, John (1703–91), evangelical preacher and church founder, was born 17 June 1703 in Epworth rectory, Lincolnshire, England, thirteenth or fourteenth child and third eldest son of Samuel Wesley, rector, and Susanna Wesley (née Annesley), both of Lincolnshire. He received his…

Wetenhall, Edward (1636–1713), Church of Ireland bishop of Cork and Ross, and later of Kilmore, was born 7 October 1636 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England; no details of his parents are available. He was initially educated at Westminster School, being admitted as a King's…

Whately, Richard (1787–1863), Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin, was born 1 February 1787 in Cavendish Square, London, youngest of nine children of Joseph Whately, then vicar of Widford, Hertfordshire, and later prebendary of Bristol, and Jane Whately (née Plumer), whose…

Wheeler, George Bomford (1805/8–1877), anglican clergyman, classical scholar, and editor of the Irish Times, was son of James Wheeler; his mother's name is unknown. Very little is known of his early life and the records of TCD…

Whitehead, O. Z. (Oothout Zabriskie; 'Zebby') (1911–98), actor and Bahá'í pioneer, was born 18 March 1911 in New York city, USA, the son of O. Z. Whitehead, a wealthy banker living in Manhattan's Upper East Side, and his wife Maria. Enjoying a comfortable childhood, he attended the…

Whitelaw, James (1749–1813), clergyman, statistician, and philanthropist, was born in Co. Leitrim; nothing is known of his family. He was educated in Cavan by Rev. Lewis Kerr before entering TCD (8 July 1766), becoming a scholar (1769…

White, Stephen (1574?–1646/7), Jesuit priest, academic, and antiquary, was born in Clonmel, the son of Pierce White. His was a remarkable family, two of his brothers also being priests: James was vicar apostolic of Waterford and Lismore and Thomas…

White, Thomas (1556–1622), Jesuit and founder of Irish colleges in Europe, was the son of Pierce White of Clonmel and was born into one of the most staunchly catholic families in Ireland. A younger brother Stephen (qv) was a celebrated…

Whitney, Patrick Joseph (1894–1942), missionary priest, was born 7 July 1894 at Breenletter townland, Ballyfermoyle, between Keadue and Lough Key in Co. Roscommon, on the borders with Co. Sligo and Co. Leitrim, eldest child of Bernard Whitney, smallholding farmer, and Mary Anne Whitney…

Whitty, Ellen (Sister Mary Vincent) (1819–92), Sister of Mercy, foundress, and educator, was born 1 March 1819 in Poldharrigge, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, daughter of Robert Whitty and Mary Whitty. She had two sisters and three brothers. Educated in Enniscorthy and the Academy of…

Wikeford (Wickford, Wykeford), Robert (d. 1390), archbishop of Dublin, archdeacon of Winchester, and chancellor of Ireland, was a scholar of Merton College, Oxford 1340/41, was admitted as a fellow (c.1344), received an MA (1349), and…

Williams, Daniel (1643/4–1717), nonconformist minister and benefactor, was born in or near Wrexham, Denbighshire, north Wales. His father's name is not recorded, but his mother may have been a daughter of Hugh Davies of Wrexham, and there was at least one sister who married a…

Williams, Griffith (c.1589–1672), Church of Ireland bishop of Ossory, was born about 1589 at Treflan in Caernarvonshire, Wales. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 15 June 1604, but his studies were curtailed when his uncle refused to support him. Through the aid…

Williamson, John William Patrick (1922–2005), presbyterian minister in England and advocate of ecumenism, was born 24 April 1922 in the manse at Ballyroney, Co. Down, son of Ernest Hamilton Williamson (1892–1958), at that time presbyterian minister in Ballyroney, and his wife Hedwig…

Willibrord (657/8–739) of Ráith Melsigi, was probably of Northumbrian aristocratic family; his mother gave him his name, while his father, Wilgils, subsequently offered him to the monastery of Ripon in Northumberland, then ruled by Wilfrid (a relative?), later bishop of York (d. 709…

Wills, James (1790–1868), clergyman and author, was born 1 January 1790, younger son of Thomas Wills of Willsgrove, Co. Roscommon, and his second wife, a daughter of Capt. James Browne of Moyne, Co. Roscommon. He was educated at Dr Miller's school in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and at…

Wingfield, Theodosia (1800–36), Viscountess Powerscourt , evangelical religious writer, was a daughter of the Hon. Hugh Howard , gentleman landowner, and Catherine Howard (née Bligh), of Co. Wicklow. The Howards were one of a small group of closely…

Winter, Samuel (1603–66), Independent minister and provost of TCD, was born in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, Warwickshire, England, son of Christopher Winter, yeoman. He was educated at the free school in Coventry before proceeding to…

Witherow, Thomas (1824–90), presbyterian minister and historian, was born 29 May 1824 in his maternal grandfather's house at Ballycastle, near Limavady, Co. Londonderry, eldest in a family of four children of Hugh Witherow, a prosperous farmer and grazier from Aughlish, near…

Wogan, William (1678–1758), London agent of the Irish government, philanthropist, and religious writer, was born in Gumfreston in Pembrokeshire, a younger son of Ethelred Wogan (d. c.1685), rector of Gumfreston and vicar of Penally. His mother's first name is unknown, but…

Wolfe, Charles (1791–1823), clergyman and poet, was born 14 December 1791 in Dublin, one of eleven children and the youngest of eight sons of Theobald Wolfe, landowner, of Blackhall, Co. Kildare, and his wife Frances, daughter of the Rev. Peter Lombard. He was related to …

Wolfe, David (1528–c.1578), leader of the second Jesuit mission to Ireland, was born in Limerick. His command of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese strongly suggests that he was educated on the Continent, but he is first recorded as dean of the diocesan chapter in Limerick…

Woodlock, Bartholomew (1819–1902), catholic bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise and rector of the Catholic University of Ireland, was born 30 March 1819 in Dublin, the eighth of ten children of William Paul Woodlock and his wife Mary (née Cleary), who were natives of Roscrea, Co.…

Woodward, Richard (1726–94), Church of Ireland bishop of Cloyne, was born in July 1726 at Grimsbury, near Bristol, the eldest son of Francis Woodward (d. 1730) and Elizabeth Woodward (née Bird; 1696–1771) of Bristol. Early years He was educated at home by…