Pratt, John
Pratt, John (1670–1741), MP and government official, was fourth son of Joseph Pratt of Cabra Castle, Co. Cavan, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Audley Mervyn (qv) of Co. Fermanagh. One of his brothers,…...
Rider (Ryder), John
Rider (Ryder), John (1562–1632), Church of Ireland bishop of Killaloe and lexicographer, was born at Carrington, Cheshire, son of Edward de Rythre of Carrington and his wife Emily Periam. In 1576 he entered Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated …...
Ridgeway, Sir Thomas
Ridgeway, Sir Thomas (1565?–1632), 1st earl of Londonderry, planter and treasurer of Ireland, was born at either Torwood or Tor Abbey, Devonshire, England, heir of Thomas Ridgeway of Tor Mohun, and his wife Mary Southcote of Bovey Tracey, both of Devonshire. After matriculating (…...
Rochfort, Robert
Rochfort, Robert (1651/2–1727), MP and chief baron of the exchequer, was second son of Prime-Iron Rochfort, army officer and landowner, and Thomazine Rochfort (née Pigott). Prime-Iron served as a lieutenant-colonel in Cromwell's army and was found guilty by court martial in 1651 of…...
Sall, Andrew Fitzjohn
Sall, Andrew Fitzjohn (1624–82), scholar and sometime Jesuit, was born into an Old English family in the city of Cashel, Co. Tipperary; nothing is known of his parents. More than five Jesuits bore the name Sall (Sál, Sale). With such a background it is not surprising to find the young…...
Sampson, George Vaughan
Sampson, George Vaughan (1763–1827), clergyman, linguist, survey writer, and agricultural and social reformer, was born in Co. Antrim, though his father, Arthur Sampson, was at the time rector of Templemore, Co. Londonderry. His mother was Mary Mercer, daughter of George Spaight…...
Savage, Philip
Savage, Philip (1644–1717), chancellor of the exchequer, was born in February 1644 in Dublin, only son of Valentine Savage (d. 1670?) and his wife Anne Haughton, both of Dublin. He had three younger sisters. He was educated by Mr Golbourne of Dublin, entering…...
Shea, Daniel
Shea, Daniel (1777–1836), orientalist, was born in Co. Limerick in 1777, son of Daniel Shea, farmer. He entered TCD aged 16 in June 1793, studying classics, and soon distinguished himself as a student of some ability. In 1797 he was awarded a scholarship. Some of his friends were…...
Sheridan, Thomas
Sheridan, Thomas (1646–1712), writer, royal official, and Jacobite, was born in St John's, near Trim, Co. Meath, fourth son of Denis Sheridan (qv), a Church of Ireland clergyman from Co. Cavan, and an Englishwoman named Foster. In the rebellion of 1641…...
Singleton, Robert Corbet
Singleton, Robert Corbet (1810–81), clergyman, classical scholar, and hymn-writer, was born 9 October 1810 in Dublin, second son of Francis Corbet, gentleman, of Dublin and Aclare, Co. Meath, and his wife, Frances (d. 1860), daughter of Joseph Deane, MP, of Terenure, Co. Dublin.…...
Smith, Sir Thomas
Smith, Sir Thomas (1512–77), officer of state, author, and colonial projector, was born at Saffron Walden, Essex, son of John Smith, high sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire, and Agnes Charnock. He entered Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1526, and was made king's scholar (1527) and…...
Smythe, Percy Clinton Sydney
Smythe, Percy Clinton Sydney (1780–1855), 6th Viscount Strangford and 1st Baron Penshurst , diplomat and writer, was born 31 August 1780, in Queen St., Mayfair, London, eldest son of Lionel, 5th Viscount Strangford, formerly a captain in the 23rd Foot during the war of American…...
Somerville, Henry Boyle Townshend
Somerville, Henry Boyle Townshend (1863–1936), naval officer, hydrographer, and author, was born 7 September 1863 on his family's historic estate at Drishane, Castletownshend, near Castle Haven, Co. Cork, third son of Lt.-col. Thomas Henry Somerville (later high sheriff of Cork) and his…...
Southwell, Sir Robert
Southwell, Sir Robert (1635–1702), diplomat, landowner, and public official, was born 31 December 1635 at Battin Warwick, on the River Bandon, near Kinsale, Co. Cork. He was the eldest son of Robert Southwell of Kinsale and his wife Helena, daughter of Robert Gore of Shereton,…...
Southwell, Sir Thomas
Southwell, Sir Thomas (c.1665–1720), Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress, Co. Limerick, revenue commissioner, was born at Glanamorohe Rhaiaile, Co. Limerick, first of four sons of Richard Southwell of Callow (d. a. February 1680) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter…...
Spender, Sir Wilfrid Bliss
Spender, Sir Wilfrid Bliss (1876–1960), army officer and civil servant, was born 6 October 1876 in London, the fourth son and fifth child of Edward Spender (1834–78), co-founder and proprietor of the Plymouth Western Morning News, and his wife Ellen Spender (née Rendle).…...
Spenser, Edmund
Spenser, Edmund (1552?–1599), poet, political writer, government official, and settler in Ireland, was born in London, probably of artisan backgrounde, though little is known of his family. He attended Merchant Taylors’ grammar school, then Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, as a sizar.…...
Stanford, William Bedell
Stanford, William Bedell (1910–84), classical scholar and senator, was born 6 January 1910 in Belfast, third child and only son (among four daughters) of the Rev. Bedell Stanford, rector of Dundrum, Co. Down, and Susan Stanford (née Jackson). Since the Rev. Stanford declined to…...
Stephens, Edward Millington
Stephens, Edward Millington (1888–1955), barrister, civil servant, and biographer, was born 8 November 1888 at 3 Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin, second child and younger son among two sons and one daughter of Henry Francis Colclough Stephens (1856–1935), a solicitor distantly…...
Stewart, Robert
Stewart, Robert (1769–1822), Viscount Castlereagh and 2nd marquess of Londonderry , chief secretary for Ireland, politician, was born 18 June 1769 at 28 Henry Street, Dublin, the second, but only surviving, child of Robert Stewart (…...
St Leger, Sir Warham
St Leger, Sir Warham (1525?–1597), administrator and planter, was second son of Sir Anthony St Leger (qv) of Ulcombe, Kent, England, and his wife Agnes (d. 24 March 1559), daughter of Sir Hugh Warham of Croydon, Surrey. During his…...
Stokes, George Gabriel
Stokes, George Gabriel (1819–1903), 1st baronet, mathematician, physicist, and scientific administrator, was born 13 August 1819 in Skreen, Co. Sligo, youngest child among five sons and three daughters of Gabriel Stokes (1761–1834), rector of Skreen, and his wife Elizabeth,…...
Stokes, Whitley
Stokes, Whitley (1830–1909), lawyer and Celtic scholar, was born 28 February 1830 in Dublin, the eldest son of Dr William Stokes (qv), heart specialist, and his wife, Mary, daughter of John Black of Glasgow. The Stokes children were raised…...
Talbot, James
Talbot, James (c.1768–1850),3rd Baron Talbot of Malahide , diplomat and spy, was born at Malahide Castle, Co. Dublin, second son among seven sons and five daughters of Richard Talbot, soldier, and Margaret Talbot (née O'Reilly). Educated at…...
Talbot, Thomas
Talbot, Thomas (1771–1853), soldier and colonial administrator, was born 19 July 1771 at Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co. Dublin, fourth son of Richard Talbot (d. 1788), soldier and landowner, and his wife Margaret (née O'Reilly) (d. 1834) of Ballinlough, Co. Westmeath, from 1831 Baroness…...