Mahaffy, Sir John Pentland
Mahaffy, Sir John Pentland (1839–1919), classical scholar and provost of TCD, was born at Chapponnaire, near Vevey, Switzerland, on 26 February 1839, youngest of six children of Nathaniel Brindley Mahaffy, Church of Ireland clergyman, and his wife, Elizabeth (née Pentland).…...
Maule, Henry
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…...
McCarthy, Charles
McCarthy, Charles (1924–86), trade unionist and academic, was born 25 January 1924 at 12 Annmount, Friars Walk, Cork city, second child of John George McCarthy of Cork, plumber, and Agnes Abina McCarthy (née O'Donoghue). He was educated at Presentation College, Cork,…...
McConnell, Albert Joseph
McConnell, Albert Joseph (1903–93), mathematician and university provost, was born 19 November 1903 in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, third child of Joseph McConnell, boot merchant, and Annie McConnell (née Orr). A presbyterian, he was educated at Ballymena Academy and entered…...
McCosh, James
McCosh, James (1811–94), presbyterian minister, philosopher, and academic, was born 1 April 1811, near Patna, Ayrshire, Scotland, second and only surviving son and fifth child of seven born to Andrew McCosh, farmer, and Jean Carson, his wife. Educated at the local parish school,…...
McDowell, Robert Brendan (R. B.)
McDowell, Robert Brendan (R. B.) (1913–2011), historian, was born on 14 September 1913 at Carrig, Bawnmore Road, Belfast, elder son of Robert McDowell, employed at Musgrave, a Belfast tea firm, and his wife Violet (née Ferris), whose family were wine and spirit merchants in Derry…...
McGrath, Raymond Herbert
McGrath, Raymond Herbert (1903–77), architect, was born 7 March 1903 in Gladesville, near Sydney, Australia, second child among two sons and one daughter of Herbert Edgar McGrath, hospital clerk, and Edith Mary McGrath (née Sorrell). He had Irish ancestry on both sides of his…...
Megaw, Basil
Megaw, Basil (1913–2002), archaeologist and folklife scholar, was born in Belfast on 22 June 1913, the third of four sons of Arthur Stanley Megaw, solicitor and writer, and his wife (Helen Isabel) Bertha (née Smith). Arthur Stanley Megaw (1873–1961) was a younger son of Robert Megaw…...
Moffett, Sir Thomas William
Moffett, Sir Thomas William (1820–1908), professor and president of QCG, was born 3 June 1820 in Castleknock, Co. Dublin, son of William Moffett, teacher. He entered TCD in 1838, obtaining first place in the sizarship examination, and…...
Moore, Dorothy (née King; other married name Dury)
Moore, Dorothy (née King; other married name Dury) (1612/13–1664), woman of letters, was born into the New English ruling class in Ireland, one of nine children of…...
Moore, Georgina (Sister Mary Clare)
Moore, Georgina (Sister Mary Clare) (1814–74), Sister of Mercy, foundress, Crimean war nurse, and teacher, was born 20 March 1814 in the Church of Ireland parish of St Ann's, Dublin, youngest among three children (one son and two daughters) of George and Catherine Moore, both…...
Morrison, Sir Richard
Morrison, Sir Richard (1767–1849), architect, was born probably in Co. Cork, where his father, John Morrison, practised as an architect of some pretensions. Frederick Augustus Hervey (qv), bishop of Cloyne and future earl…...
Mulholland, Roger
Mulholland, Roger (1740–1818), architect and property developer, was born in the diocese of Derry. Nothing is known of his background, but on 31 January 1770 he married Jane Russell in Belfast; she was probably related to a John Russell, whose name appears along with Mulholland's…...
Mulvany, Isabella Marion Jane
Mulvany, Isabella Marion Jane (1854–1934), educator, was born on 4 September 1854 in 7 Clanbrassil Terrace, Dublin, the second daughter in a family of seven children of Christopher Mulvany (1818?–1895), an engineer, and his wife Isabella (née Fowler). An older sister and a younger…...
Newman, John Henry
Newman, John Henry (1801–90), cardinal, theologian, and educationist, was born 21 February 1801 at 80 Old Broad Street, London, the first of the six children of his banker father, John Newman (d. 1824), and Huguenot-descended mother, Jemima Fourdrinier (d. 1836). He attended Ealing…...
Nicholson, Ernest Wilson
Nicholson, Ernest Wilson (1938–2013), biblical scholar, was born on 26 September 1938 in Portadown, Co. Armagh, the youngest of three children of Ernest Tedford Nicholson, a soldier and baker, and Veronica Muriel Nicholson. After attending Hart Memorial Primary School in Portadown, he…...
Noble, Margaret Elizabeth (Sister Nivedita)
Noble, Margaret Elizabeth (Sister Nivedita) (1867–1911), educator, writer, and political activist in India, was born at 23 Scotch Street, Dungannon, on 28 October 1867, the eldest daughter and first child of Samuel Richmond Noble and Mary Isabel Hamilton. Both male grandparents are said…...
O'Connor, Patricia
O'Connor, Patricia (1905–83), writer and teacher, was born Henrietta Norah O'Connor (known within her family as Norah) at Sheephaven coastguard station, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal on 4 December 1905, third of four children (three daughters and a son) of Patrick O'Connor, coastguard and…...
Orpen, Richard Francis Caulfeild
Orpen, Richard Francis Caulfeild (1863–1938), architect and painter, was born 24 December 1863, the eldest of four sons and two daughters of Arthur Herbert Orpen, a solicitor, of Oriel, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and Anne Orpen (née Caulfeild), daughter of Revd Charles Caulfeild (1804–62),…...
Parrot (Parrat), William
Parrot (Parrat), William (fl. 1622–42), builder of St Columb's cathedral, Londonderry, is first mentioned in September 1622 as a pikeman mustered for the defence of the town of Coleraine. In November 1627 he went to England carrying a letter from the 1st earl of…...
Patterson, Robert
Patterson, Robert (1743–1824), mathematician and educator, was born 30 May 1743 at Hillsborough, Co. Down, eldest son among three sons and two daughters of Robert Patterson, presbyterian farmer, and Jane Patterson (née Walker). Educated locally, he displayed a natural talent for…...
Phillips, Walter Alison
Phillips, Walter Alison (1864–1950), historian and first Lecky professor at TCD, was born 21 October 1864 at Lewisham, England, youngest son of John Phillips, merchant, and Jane Phillips (née Atkins); throughout his career he was known as W. Alison Phillips. His father died in…...
Pollen, John Hungerford
Pollen, John Hungerford (1820–1902), architect, artist, and author, was born 19 November 1820 in London, second son of Richard Pollen, barrister, and his wife Anne, daughter of Samuel Pepys Cockerell. Educated at Durham House (1829–33) and Eton (1833–8), in May 1838 he…...
Porter, Josiah Leslie
Porter, Josiah Leslie (1823–89), presbyterian minister, professor, and president of QCB, was born 4 October 1823 at Carrowan, Burt, Co. Donegal, youngest son of William Porter and Margaret Porter (née Leslie); both parents were from…...
Pratt, Benjamin
Pratt, Benjamin (1669–1721), provost of TCD, was born at Garradice, Co. Meath, eldest son of Joseph Pratt (d. December 1705 or January 1706) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Audley Mervyn (qv) and widow of Nathaniel Poole. He…...