Kerney, Leopold Harding
Kerney, Leopold Harding (1881–1962), diplomat, was born 11 December 1881 in Dublin, youngest among nine children (two of whom died in childhood) of Philip Joseph Kerney, a well known journalist, sub-editor of the Dublin Daily Express and editor of the Weekly Irish Times…...
Kiernan, Thomas Joseph (‘Tommy’; ‘T. J.’)
Kiernan, Thomas Joseph (‘Tommy’; ‘T. J.’) (1897–1967), diplomat, was born 9 November 1897 at 3 Moyne Road, Rathmines, Dublin, son of Francis Kiernan, clerk, and Kathleen Kiernan (neé Hurley). He had three brothers – Brian, Michael, and Brendan (who later became legal adviser to the…...
Killaly, Hamilton Hartley
This is a co-subject for the entry on Killaly, John A.. View the original entry....
King, Sir Lucas White
King, Sir Lucas White (1856–1925), Indian civil servant and Oriental scholar, was born 28 September 1856 in Madras, India, first among three sons and three daughters who survived infancy, of Henry King, a Drogheda-born member of the Indian Medical Service, and his wife Sophie…...
Kinnane, Michael Joseph (‘M. J.’)
Kinnane, Michael Joseph (‘M. J.’) (1889–1952), civil servant and Garda Síochána commissioner, was born 18 January 1889 in Drumcondra, Dublin, son of Martin Kinnane and Eileen Kinnane (née Carney), national school teachers. Raised in Mountbellew, Co. Galway, and educated at…...
Knox, Alexander
Knox, Alexander (1757–1831), theologian and private secretary, was born 17 March 1757 in Londonderry, son of a member of the city corporation, and a descendant of the Scottish reformer John Knox. Educated at home, he made the acquaintance of the founder of methodism,…...
Lambart (Lambert), Sir Oliver
Lambart (Lambert), Sir Oliver (d. 1618), 1st Baron Lambart of Cavan , soldier and Irish administrator, was the son of Walter Lambart, of Preston, Yorkshire, England, and Rose, daughter of Sir Oliver Wallop and niece of Sir Henry Wallop…...
Lane, George
Lane, George (c.1620–83), 1st Viscount Lanesborough , politician and administrator, was born near Elphin, Co. Roscommon, eldest son of Sir Richard Lane of Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, and his second wife, Mabel, daughter and heir to Gerald Fitzgerald. His English grandfather…...
La Touche, William George Digges
La Touche, William George Digges (1747–1803), diplomat and banker, was born on 28 August 1747, third son of James Digges La Touche (qv) and his second wife, Martha (née Thwaites) of St Stephen's Green, Dublin. He was admitted to St Paul's School, London, on…...
Lawless, Patrick
Lawless, Patrick (fl. 1691–1718), soldier and diplomat, was the son of Walter Lawless of Talbot's Inch, near Kilkenny, and Ann Bryan, sister of James Bryan of Jenkinstown, alderman; he was the grandson of Richard Lawless (d. 1670), procurator of the supreme council of the…...
Lawlor, Dermot Colman
Lawlor, Dermot Colman (1905–87), managing director of Bord na Móna and Meath county manager, was born 14 September 1905 in Dublin, son of Patrick Lawlor, bookbinder, of 74 Bride St., Dublin, and Rosanna Lawlor (née Fagan). He was educated at Terenure College, Dublin, and…...
Lees, Edward Smith
This is a co-subject for the entry on Lees, Sir John. View the original entry....
Leeson, Margaret (‘Peg’)
Leeson, Margaret (‘Peg’) (1727–97), prostitute, brothel-keeper, and memoirist, was born Margaret Plunket at Killough, Co. Westmeath, one of eight surviving children of Matthew Plunket, a wealthy farmer, and his wife, whose maiden name was O'Reilly. Most of what is known about Margaret…...
Lees, Sir John
Lees, Sir John (c.1737–1811), secretary of the Irish post office, was born in Cannock, Ayrshire, Scotland, son of Adam Lees of Cannock and Agnes Lees (née Goldie) of Glasgow. Educated in Scotland, he first came to the notice of …...
Le Fanu, William Richard
Le Fanu, William Richard (1816–94), civil engineer and commissioner of public works, was born 24 February 1816 in the Royal Hibernian Military School, Phoenix Park, Dublin, youngest child among two sons and a daughter of the Very Rev. Thomas Philip Le Fanu (1784–1845), dean of…...
Lemass, Frank
Lemass, Frank (1911–74), general manager and director of CIÉ, president of the Irish Management Institute, was born 13 September 1911 in Dublin, youngest son among four sons and three daughters of John T. Lemass, hatter and outfitter, of 3 Capel St., Dublin, and Frances Lemass (…...
Lenihan, Patrick James
Lenihan, Patrick James (1902–70), civil servant, company director, and TD, was born 4 September 1902 in Lickeen, Ennistimon, Co. Clare, son of Patrick Lenihan, national school teacher, and Hannah Lenihan (née McIherney). Educated at St Joseph's College, Ballinasloe, and…...
Lewis, Sir George Cornewall
Lewis, Sir George Cornewall (1806–63), politician, author, and assistant commissioner of the poor law in Ireland, was born 21 April 1806 in London, elder son of Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis (1780–1855), later MP for Beaumaris (1812–26) and Ennis (1826–8), commissioner for Irish…...
Leydon, John
Leydon, John (1895–1979), civil servant, was born 17 January 1895, fourth child and third son of James Leydon and Kate Leydon (neé Quinn), farmers, of Arigna, Co. Roscommon. He was educated at St Mel's College, Longford, and became a seminarian at St Patrick's College, Maynooth (…...
Loftus, Adam
Loftus, Adam (1568?–1643), 1st Viscount Loftus of Ely, lord chancellor of Ireland, was the second, but eldest surviving, son of Robert Loftus of Swineside in the parish of Coverham, Yorkshire. Adam matriculated at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating BA…...
Lowther, James (‘Jem’)
Lowther, James (‘Jem’) (1840–1904), chief secretary for Ireland, was born 1 December 1840 at Swillington House, near Leeds, second son of Sir Charles Lowther (1803–94) and his wife Isabella (d. 1887), daughter of the Rev. Robert Morehead, rector of Easington. He was educated first…...
Lowther, Sir Gerrard (Gerard)
Lowther, Sir Gerrard (Gerard) (1590–1660), lawyer and judge, was probably the natural son of Christopher Lowther of Penrith, Cumberland. He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford, on 7 June 1605. He entered Gray's Inn in 1608 and was called to the bar in 1614. He was in Dublin as…...
Ludgate, Percy
Ludgate, Percy Edwin (1883–1922), pioneer in digital computing, was born 2 August 1883 at the house of his parents, Michael Ludgate and Mary (née McMahon), in Townsend Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, the youngest of at least eight children. His father taught shorthand, later joined by…...
Luzio, Salvatore
Luzio, Salvatore (fl. 1897–1934), cleric and papal envoy to Ireland, was of Italian birth. He served as professor of canon law at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, from 1897 to 1910, and it was later claimed that he made the acquaintance of…...
Lye (Leigh, Lee, Alie), John
Lye (Leigh, Lee, Alie), John (d. 1612), crown agent, is of obscure origins: he may have been the son of Francis Lasighsigh and his wife, a daughter of John O'Carroll, of Killeigh, King's County, or he may have been English-born. Lye held an important position as an agent of the crown in…...