Donlan, Seán P.

Brooke, Henry (1703–83), literary and political writer, was born in Ratavan, near Virginia, Co. Cavan, son of the Rev. William B. Brooke, wealthy rector of Killinkere and Mullagh, and Letrice Digby. His mother, possibly the second daughter of Dr…

Cleaver, Euseby (1745–1819), Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin, was born in the rectory of Twyford, near Buckingham, England, son of the Rev. William Cleaver, the Twyford schoolmaster. He was admitted a king's scholar at Westminster School (1759) and subsequently as an…

Dermody, Thomas (1775–1802), poet and soldier, was born 17 January 1775 in Ennis, Co. Clare, eldest of three sons of Nicholas Dermody, a classical teacher. He was educated in his youth in Latin and Greek and was teaching alongside his father at the age of nine. At ten he began to…

Donnellan, Nehemiah (1649–1705), MP and chief baron of the exchequer, was born in Dublin, third son of Sir James Donnellan (qv), MP and lord chief justice of the common pleas, and his second wife, Sarah, fourth daughter of Jonas…

Fagan, Luke (c.1656/7–1733), catholic archbishop of Dublin, was born to a gentry family in Lick Bla near Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath. He may have attended an Irish Jesuit school during the restoration period and appears to have been ordained in 1682. He was received as a…

Fitzsimons, Patrick (c.1695–1769), catholic vicar general and archbishop of Dublin, was born in Clonsilla, Co. Dublin, son of Richard Fitzsimons, said to have been a ploughman. Patrick Fitzsimons studied in Spain at the English College at Seville, where he was ordained (…

Forbes, John (1750–97), MP and governor general of the Bahamas, was born possibly at Newstone, Co. Meath, youngest child of John Forbes and his wife Sophia, daughter of John Curtis of Mount Hanover, Meath. After studying with a Mr Williamson, he entered…

French, Robert (1716–79), MP and landlord, was born 30 November 1716 in Co. Galway, eldest son of Patrick French (1681–1744) of Monivea, Galway, barrister and MP, and his wife Jane, youngest daughter of Simon Digby (qv), bishop of Elphin…

Harold, James (1744–1830), priest and prisoner, was born into a Co. Wicklow family that claimed descent from King Harold (d. 1066) of England. He was ordained (1774), studied at Antwerp (c.1779), and was PP of Saggart and Rathcoole, Co.…

Hayes, Samuel (1743–95), politician, improving landlord, and amateur architect, was the eldest son of John Hayes of Hayesville, Co. Wicklow. He studied under a Mr Ford, before entering TCD on 8 January 1759. He registered at London's…

Kenny, Paul (c.1665–1737), catholic priest, was born in Co. Galway, son of an unknown father and Anna Kenny (née Costello). Kenny was a novice with the Discalced Carmelites of Loughrea, Co. Galway, and, on making his religious profession there (1690), assumed the…

Longfield, Mountifort (1802–84), economist and lawyer, was second son of the Rev. Mountifort Longfield (d. 1850), JP and vicar of Desert Serges, Co. Cork, of the Anglo-Irish Longfield family of Longueville, near Mallow, Co. Cork, and his…

MacDevitt (McDavett, M'Davit, M'Devitt), Philip (1724–97), catholic bishop, was born in Crislagh, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, of unknown parents; he had at least two brothers. He received his doctorate from the Sorbonne, returned to Ireland, and, after serving as a priest, eventually…

MacDonagh (MacDonogh), Michael (1699?–1746), catholic bishop, was a native of Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. His parents' names are unknown. He joined the Dominicans of St Mary's convent in Coleraine (c.1715–16) and subsequently left for Italy to study in Pesaro, before…

MacMahon (McMahon), Michael Peter (c.1710–1807), catholic bishop, was probably born in Doonass, Co. Clare, son of Patrick MacMahon of Dooradoyle, Limerick, and Margaret MacMahon (née O'Sullivan). From a wealthy catholic gentry family who lost their lands in the Williamite…

MacMahon, Ross Roe (Roche Roccho) (1698–1748), catholic archbishop, was born in Co. Monaghan. He studied at the Irish College in Rome, alongside Peter Creagh (1707–75), later bishop of Waterford and Lismore (1747–75). MacMahon had a distinguished academic career and was especially…

MacSparran (McSparran), James (1693–1757), clergyman, was born on 10 September 1693, probably in Dungiven, Co. Londonderry, of unknown parents. He was the nephew, however, of Archibald MacSparran, a presbyterian minister and large landowner who had emigrated from the west of…

Marshall, Robert (1697–1774), attorney, MP, and judge, was born, perhaps in Monaghan, the only son of John Marshall, ‘gentleman’, of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and Catherine (maiden name unknown). He was educated at Clonmel Free School, possibly Kilkenny College (1711), and…

Mastertown (Masterton), Charles (1679–1750), presbyterian minister and moderator, was born 23 March 1679 in Scotland, probably in Linlithgowshire, of unknown parents, though he was the nephew of Lady Huggonfield. He was educated at Edinburgh University, graduating…

Maule, Henry (1676?–1758), Church of Ireland bishop and charter school enthusiast, was eldest son of William Maule, comptroller of the customs, Dublin, and his wife Jane, daughter of Roger West, of The Rock, Co. Wicklow. He was educated by a Mr Young of Dublin before attending…

Morgan, William (1712–32), methodist, was born perhaps in Dublin, elder son of Richard Morgan of Kevin St., Dublin, who was later second remembrancer of the court of exchequer and register of the dean and chapter of Christ Church (c.1751). Nothing is known of his mother.…

Murphy (Morphy), Dominic Edward (c.1651–1728), catholic vicar-general and archbishop of Dublin, was a native of Balrothery, north of Lusk, Co. Dublin. Murphy studied at Salamanca and was ordained at the Madrid Escorial (1677), where he was prebendary of Clonmethan and…

Newcome (Newcombe), William (1729–1800), Church of Ireland archbishop, was born 19 April 1729 in Barton le Clay, Bedfordshire, second son of Rev. Joseph Newcome (Newcoombe), vicar of St Helen's, Abingdon, Berkshire, and rector of Barton le Clay, and Alice Newcome (née Rickards).…

Nugent, Robert Craggs (1702–88), 1st Earl Nugent , poet, and politician, was born in Carlanstown, Co. Westmeath, second son of Michael Nugent (d. 1739) of Carlanstown and his wife Mary (d. 1740), fifth and youngest daughter of Robert Barnewall, 9th Lord Trimlestown. Frequently…

Nugent, Thomas (1700?–1772), writer and translator, was a native of Ireland, but little is known of the details of his life. He is frequently confused with his namesake (c.1710–1788), the fourth son of Walter Nugent of Carpenterstown, Co. Westmeath. In addition to original…