French, (William) Percy
French, (William) Percy (1854–1920), songwriter, humourist, entertainer, and painter, was born 1 May 1854 in Cloonyquin House, parish of Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, second son and third child among four sons and five daughters of Christopher French (1821–97), landowner, and Susan Emma French…...
Gardiner, Charles
This is a co-subject for the entry on Gardiner, Luke. View the original entry....
Geary (Garry), Thomas Augustine (Timothy)
Geary (Garry), Thomas Augustine (Timothy) (1775–1801), composer, was born in Dublin in 1775 (his date of birth is sometimes given as 1772), the son of Timothy Garry (senior). Geary (who signed himself ‘Timothy Garry’ at the age of fifteen) later adopted the first names Thomas Augustine…...
Giffard, Ambrose Hardinge
This is a co-subject for the entry on Giffard, John. View the original entry....
Giffard, John
Giffard, John (1746–1819), accountant general of the Irish customs and acting grand master of the Orange order, was born 14 February 1746 (NS), the only child of John Giffard, attorney, of Great Torrington, Devon, and his wife Dorcas Robinson (née Murphy), daughter of Arthur…...
Godley, John Robert
Godley, John Robert (1814–61), colonialist and civil servant, was born 29 May 1814, probably in Dublin, eldest among seven children of John Godley (1775–1863) of Killigar, Co. Leitrim, JP, DL, and…...
Goodman, James (Séamus Gudman)
Goodman, James (Séamus Gudman) (1828–96), clergyman, Irish-language scholar, and music collector, was born 22 September 1828 at Ballyameen near Dingle, Co. Kerry, second son among five sons and four daughters of Thomas Chute Goodman, clergyman, and Mary Goodman (née Gorham). Brought up…...
Graves, Sir Robert Wyndham
Graves, Sir Robert Wyndham (1858–1934), consular official and diplomatist, was born 16 July 1858 at Parknasilla, Co. Kerry, fifth son of Dr Charles Graves (qv), bishop of Limerick, and Selina Graves (née Cheyne). He was brother of…...
Greene, Sir William Conyngham
Greene, Sir William Conyngham (1854–1934), diplomat, was born 29 October 1854 in Dublin, eldest among three sons and one daughter of Richard J. Greene, Dublin barrister and children's author, and Louisa Lilias Plunket, 4th daughter of the 3rd Baron Plunket. Greene was educated at…...
Gregory, Sir William Henry
Gregory, Sir William Henry (1817–92), MP and colonial governor, was born 12 July 1817 in the under-secretary's lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin, only son of Robert Gregory (179?–1847) of Coole Park, Co. Galway, and Elizabeth Gregory (1799–1875; née O'Hara) of Raheen, Co. Galway. His…...
Grierson, Sir George Abraham
Grierson, Sir George Abraham (1851–1941), member of the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and language scholar, was born 7 January 1851 in the parish of Monkstown near Dublin, eldest son of George Abraham Grierson, a TCD graduate and barrister…...
Griffith, Amyas
Griffith, Amyas (d. 1801), excise officer, writer, and freemason, was born at Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, son of an excise officer, Jonas Griffith, who seems to have been a connection of Richard Griffith (qv) (1714?–88); Amyas Griffith's…...
Hamilton, James
Hamilton, James (1811–85), 1st duke of Abercorn and lord lieutenant of Ireland, was born 21 January 1811 at Seamore Place, Mayfair, London, elder son of James, Viscount Hamilton (1786–1814), and his wife Harriet (d. 1833), daughter of John Douglas, earl of Morton. His guardian, George…...
Hamilton, John William
Hamilton, John William (c.1745–81), soldier, MP, and under-secretary, was born in Scotland, the only son of Sir Robert Hamilton of Silverton Hall, colonel of the 40th Regiment of Foot, and his wife Mary Peere (or Pier) Williams (d. 1777). Having been appointed captain in…...
Hamilton, Sackville
Hamilton, Sackville (1732–1818), politician and administrator, was born 14 March 1732 in Ireland, the third son of Henry Hamilton (1692–1743) and his wife, Mary Hamilton (née Dawson). Beginning a career of public service at the age of fourteen, he served as a clerk in the revenue…...
Hammond, David Andrew ('Davy')
Hammond, David Andrew ('Davy') (1928–2008), singer, folklorist, television producer and documentary maker, was born on 5 December 1928 in Miss Kells's nursing home on the Castlereagh Road in Belfast, the son of Leslie Hammond, a tram driver, and his wife Annie (née Lamont). His parents…...
Hancock, William Neilson
This is a co-subject for the entry on Hancock, John. View the original entry....
Harcourt, Simon
Harcourt, Simon (1714–77), 1st Earl Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt, diplomat, and lord lieutenant of Ireland (1772–6), was the only son of Simon Harcourt (1684–1720), barrister and Westminster MP, and his first wife, Elizabeth Harcourt (née Evelyn). Educated at Westminster School, he…...
Harrison, Frank Llewelyn
Harrison, Frank Llewelyn (1905–87), musicologist, organist, and composer, was born 29 September 1905 in Dublin, the second son of Alfred Francis and Florence May Harrison. He became a chorister at St Patrick's cathedral in 1912, occasionally playing the organ for cathedral…...
Harty, Sir (Herbert) Hamilton
Harty, Sir (Herbert) Hamilton (1879–1941), pianist, accompanist, composer, arranger, and conductor, was born 4 December 1879 in Hillsborough, Co. Down. His father, William Michael Harty (b. Limerick, 1852; d. Hillsborough, Co. Down, 1 November 1918), became a chorister and organ…...
Hastings, Francis Rawdon
Hastings, Francis Rawdon (1754–1826), 2nd earl of Moira , 1st marquess of Hastings , soldier, whig politician, and viceroy of India, was born 7 December 1754 in Dublin, eldest son of John Rawdon (qv), 1st earl of Moira (1723/4–1793), and…...
Herbert, Victor
Herbert, Victor (1859–1924), composer, was born 1 February 1859 in Dublin, son of Edward Herbert, artist, and Fanny Herbert (née Lover). Victor's father died when he was 3, and he was initially raised by his grandfather, the novelist and composer …...
Hewson, George Henry Philips
Hewson, George Henry Philips (1881–1972), organist, composer, and teacher, was born 19 November 1881, youngest among ten children of Edmund Hewson and his wife Caroline (née Page). In 1888 he joined the school and choir of St Patrick's cathedral, Dublin. He showed an early aptitude…...
Hudson, Henry
Hudson, Henry (1798–1889), collector of traditional music, was born 23 March 1798, probably in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, third son of Edward Hudson and Frances Hudson (née Barton). Family tradition states that he was given the middle name ‘Philerin’ (‘love of Ireland’), which suggests…...
Hull, Sir William
Hull, Sir William (c.1573–1643), pirate collaborator and settler, was one of two surviving sons and five daughters of Henry Hull, a merchant and ship owner of Exeter, and his wife Julianna (née Spurway). Henry maintained a family tradition by serving as mayor of Exeter in 1605…...