Quinn, James

Dr James Quinn joined the Dictionary of Irish Biography (DIB) project in 1995 and played a key role in the landmark launch – in print and online – of the DIB in 2009. In 2012 James became the DIB's Managing Editor, a role he held until his retirement in July 2022 (minus a career break in 2019–21). In addition to writing more than 270 entries and overseeing the ongoing expansion of the DIB, James’s research interests mainly focused on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Irish history. He has written books on the United Irishman Thomas Russell (2002), the Young Irelander John Mitchel (2008), and published Young Ireland and the writing of Irish history in 2015, as well as contributing widely to journals and essay collections on aspects of political and cultural history, biography and historiography.

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Carey, James

Carey, James (1845–83), Fenian and informer, was born in James's St., Dublin, son of Francis Carey, bricklayer, originally from Celbridge, Co. Kildare. James worked as a bricklayer for eighteen years, becoming a master builder and a foreman in a building contractor's firm. He joined…

Carey, John Joseph ('Johnny', 'Jackie')

Carey, John Joseph ('Johnny', 'Jackie') (1919–95), footballer, was born 23 February 1919 at 4 Adelaide Place, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, the son of John Carey, a van driver, and Sarah Carey (née Byrne). Educated at Westland Row CBS, he…

Carey, William Paulet

Carey, William Paulet (1759–1839), journalist, art critic, engraver, and United Irishman, was born in Dublin, third of five sons of Christopher Carey of Redmond's Hill, a catholic baker who had prospered supplying the Royal Navy during the American war. Stung by the disabilities…

Carnduff, Thomas

Carnduff, Thomas (1886–1956), writer, was born 30 January 1886 in Sandy Row, Belfast, youngest among six children of James Graham Carnduff (1842?–1900), an invalided army schoolteacher, and his second wife Jane (née Bollard; d. 1891). The family were poor, and living on their father…

Carney, Winifred (‘Winnie’)

Carney, Winifred (‘Winnie’) (1887–1943), trade unionist, feminist, and republican, was born Maria Winifred Carney 4 December 1887 at Fisher's Hill, Bangor, Co. Down, youngest child among three sons and three daughters of Alfred Carney, commercial traveller, and Sarah Carney (née Cassidy…

Carson, Alexander

Carson, Alexander (1776–1844), nonconformist minister, was born c.September 1776 at Annahone, near Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone, eldest son of William Carson. His mother's name and his father's occupation are unknown. Intended for the ministry at an early age, he was…

Carter, Charles Thomas

Carter, Charles Thomas (1735?–1804), musician and composer, was born in Dublin, elder son of Timothy Carter, chorister and music teacher; nothing is known of his mother. A member of the choir of Christ Church cathedral in his youth, Charles wrote two anthems for the cathedral's…

Carteret, John

Carteret, John (1690–1763), 2nd Baron Carteret , lord lieutenant of Ireland (1724–30), was born 22 April 1690 at Hawnes, near Bedford, England, eldest of two sons of George, 1st Baron Carteret, and Lady Grace Granville, youngest daughter of John, 1st earl of Bath. He became 2nd…

Carty, Francis

Carty, Francis (1899–1972), revolutionary, journalist, and author, was born 29 March 1899 in Wexford town, eldest child of Francis Carty, shopkeeper, and Margaret Carty (née Storey). Educated at CBS, Wexford, he contributed stories…

Casey, John Keegan

Casey, John Keegan (1846–70), poet and Fenian, was born 22 August 1846 at Mount Dalton near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, son of Luke Casey, the local schoolmaster; nothing is known of his mother. He was educated at Mount Dalton and at Ballymahon, Co. Longford, where his family moved. A…

Cavanagh, Michael

Cavanagh, Michael (1822–1900), Fenian, poet, and biographer, was probably born 22 January 1822 in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, the son of Andrew Cavanagh, a cooper of Cook St., Cappoquin, and his wife Mary (née Cullanane). He had six sisters, one of whom, Julia (b. 1833), was the wife…

Cavan, Harry (Henry Hartrick)

Cavan, Harry (Henry Hartrick) (1916–2000), football administrator and trade union official, was born on 19 May 1916 in Mary Street, Newtownards, Co. Down, the eldest child of Walter Cavan, a motor body maker, and his wife Clara (née Quinn). Educated locally, he left school at 14 to…

Cavendish, Sir Henry

Cavendish, Sir Henry (1732–1804), politician and parliamentary reporter, was born 29 September 1732, eldest of six children of Henry Cavendish (qv) of Doveridge Hall, Derbyshire, teller of the Irish exchequer (1755–76) and MP, and…

Cavendish, Spencer Compton

Cavendish, Spencer Compton (1833–1908), 8th duke of Devonshire , chief secretary for Ireland, liberal unionist leader, was born 23 July 1833 at Holker Hall, Lancashire, England, eldest among three sons of William Cavendish, later 7th duke of Devonshire, and his wife Lady Blanche…

Ceannt, Éamonn

Ceannt, Éamonn (1881–1916), revolutionary and Irish-Irelander, was born Edward Thomas Kent on 21 September 1881 in Ballymoe, Glenamaddy, Co. Galway, sixth among seven children (six boys and a girl) of James Kent (1841–1912), Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) constable originally of Co.…

Cherry, Andrew

Cherry, Andrew (1762–1812), actor and playwright, was born 11 January 1762 in Limerick, eldest son of John Cherry, printer and bookseller; nothing is known of his mother. Educated at the Limerick grammar school, he left at the age of 11 to work in Dublin for…

Chesney, Charles Cornwallis

Chesney, Charles Cornwallis (1826–76), military theorist and historian, was born 29 September 1826 at Packolet, near Kilkeel, Co. Down, son of Capt. Charles Cornwallis Chesney, formerly an officer in the East India Company's Bengal artillery. After his father died (1830), his…

Chesney, Francis Rawdon

Chesney, Francis Rawdon (1789–1872), soldier and explorer, was born 16 March 1789 at Ballyveagh, near Annalong, Co. Down, eldest son of Capt. Alexander Chesney, coastguard officer, of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, and his second wife, Jane (née Wilson), of Ballymena. Capt. Chesney had been…

Chevron, Philip

Chevron, Philip (1957–2013), musician, songwriter and composer, was born Philip Ryan on 17 June 1957 in the Rotunda hospital, Dublin, the elder of two children of (Philip) Brendan Ryan (1927–97) and Christine Ryan (née LaGrue), both born in inner city Dublin. He grew up in Lorcan Drive…

Churchill, Frances Anne Emily

This is a co-subject for the entry on Churchill, John Winston Spencer. View the original entry.

Churchill, John Winston Spencer

Churchill, John Winston Spencer (1822–83), 7th duke of Marlborough and lord lieutenant of Ireland (1876–80), was born 2 June 1822 at Garboldisham Hall, Norfolk, eldest son of George Spencer Churchill (1793–1857), 6th duke, and his wife Lady Jane (1798–1844), daughter of George…

Church, Sir Richard

Church, Sir Richard (1784–1873), soldier and philhellene, was born 23 February 1784 in Cork city, fourth among seven children of Matthew Church, a quaker merchant from Cork, and Anne Church (née Dearman), originally of Darlington, Co. Durham, England. After he ran away from school…

Clancy, James

Clancy, James (1846?–1911), Fenian and journalist, was born in Waterford city, but reared and educated in London, where at the age of 12 he met Joseph I. C. Clarke (qv), who became a lifelong friend; nothing further is…

Clarke, Joseph Ignatius Constantine

Clarke, Joseph Ignatius Constantine (1846–1925), Fenian, journalist, and author, was born 31 July 1846 in Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, son of William Clarke, barrister, and Ellen Clarke (née Quinn). He received his early education at Mountrath monastery, Queen's Co. (…

Clarke, Thomas James (‘Tom’)

Clarke, Thomas James (‘Tom’) (1858–1916), revolutionary, was born 11 March 1858 in England, probably in Hurst Castle, Hampshire, the eldest child among two sons and two daughters of James Clarke (b. 1830) of Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, bombardier in the Royal Artillery, and Mary Palmer of…