Toland, John
Toland, John (1670–1722), freethinker and polemical writer, was probably born in Inishowen, Co. Donegal, on 30 November 1670. Reputed to be the illegitimate son of a catholic priest, Toland may have been baptised ‘Joannes Eugenius’, which he later altered to a pen name, ‘Janus Junius’.…...
Toye, Thomas
Toye, Thomas (1801–70), presbyterian minister, was born 6 October 1801 in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, eldest child among two sons and a daughter of Winspear Toye (d. 1854) and Margaret Toye (née Justice). His father, who held public office in the county, was connected to Cork's gentry…...
Upton, Arthur
Upton, Arthur (1623–1706), presbyterian politician, was born 31 May 1623, the eldest son of Captain Henry Upton of Castle Upton (or Castle Norton), Templepatrick, Co. Antrim, and his wife, Mary, daughter of Sir Hugh Clotworthy; he had three brothers and three sisters. Sir Hugh,…...
Urwick, William
Urwick, William (1791–1868), congregational clergyman, was born 8 December 1791 in Shrewsbury, England, seventh child and third son of William Urwick (d. 1799). merchant, and Elinor Urwick (née Eddowes; d. 1853). He was the only son to survive, and had only two sisters. He himself…...
Walker, John
Walker, John (1768–1833), religious leader and classical scholar, was born in January 1768 in Co. Roscommon, son of the Rev. Matthew Walker, Church of Ireland clergyman. In January 1786 he entered TCD, being made a scholar in 1788,…...
Walmsley, James Andrew
Walmsley, James Andrew (1912–2008), Indian civil servant and Dublin businessman, was born 4 October 1912 at The Green, in the townland of Aughnahoory, near Kilkeel, Co. Down, eldest of four boys of James Charles Walmsley, a farmer, and Margaret ('Peggy') Walmsley (née Fairbairn),…...
Ward, John
Ward, John (1781–1837), mystic known as ‘Zion ’, was born 25 December 1781 in Cobh, Co. Cork. His birthplace and the fact of his being born on Christmas day to a mother called Mary he later regarded as highly significant: ‘The divine love principle is like cork, it will still be…...
Wasson, Moore Dunlop
Wasson, Moore Dunlop (1918–2009), presbyterian minister and television producer, was born 2 December 1918, the first-born child of Robert Wasson and Emmeline Wasson (née Bell). His father was at that time a soldier, his mother was a milliner before her marriage, and the family lived…...
Watts, Robert
Watts, Robert (1820–95), presbyterian scholar, was born 10 July 1820 in Moneylane, near Dundrum, Co. Down, youngest among fourteen children; nothing further is known of his family background. He attended RBAI for a time,…...
Watts, William Arthur ('Bill')
Watts, William Arthur ('Bill') (1930–2010), scientist and provost of TCD, was born on 26 May 1930 in Upper Mayor Street, in Dublin's East Wall area, his maternal grandparents' home. His mother, Bess Dickinson, had moved to Dublin from England as a child, and in 1925 married William…...
Weir, Andrew John (‘Jack’)
Weir, Andrew John (‘Jack’) (1919–2000), presbyterian minister and missionary, was born 24 March 1919 at Moukden in China, the son of Irish presbyterian missionaries, the Rev. Andrew Weir, who came from Claggan, near Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, and his second wife Margaret (née Grills…...
Williams, Daniel
Williams, Daniel (1643/4–1717), nonconformist minister and benefactor, was born in or near Wrexham, Denbighshire, north Wales. His father's name is not recorded, but his mother may have been a daughter of Hugh Davies of Wrexham, and there was at least one sister who married a…...
Williamson, John William Patrick
Williamson, John William Patrick (1922–2005), presbyterian minister in England and advocate of ecumenism, was born 24 April 1922 in the manse at Ballyroney, Co. Down, son of Ernest Hamilton Williamson (1892–1958), at that time presbyterian minister in Ballyroney, and his wife Hedwig…...
Winter, Samuel
Winter, Samuel (1603–66), Independent minister and provost of TCD, was born in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, Warwickshire, England, son of Christopher Winter, yeoman. He was educated at the free school in Coventry before proceeding to…...
Witherow, Thomas
Witherow, Thomas (1824–90), presbyterian minister and historian, was born 29 May 1824 in his maternal grandfather's house at Ballycastle, near Limavady, Co. Londonderry, eldest in a family of four children of Hugh Witherow, a prosperous farmer and grazier from Aughlish, near…...
Workman, Thomas
Workman, Thomas (1843–1900), naturalist, traveller, and businessman, was born 14 August 1843, third son among fifteen children of Robert Workman and Jane Workman (née Service) of Ceara, Malone Road, Belfast. His father's family was originally from Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland,…...
Worth, Edward
Worth, Edward (d. 1669), puritan and Church of Ireland bishop of Killaloe, was born in Co. Cork, son of James Worth, clergyman of Newmarket, Co. Cork, who originally came from Tytherington in the parish of Prestbury, Cheshire, England. Edward was a scholar of…...
Wright, William
Wright, William (1837–99), presbyterian missionary and author, was born 15 January 1837 at Finnards, near Rathfriland, Co. Down, youngest among three sons and two daughters of William Wright, farmer, and Jayne Wright (née Niblock). Educated at the local school in Ballykeel, he…...
Wright, William
Wright, William (1918–85), professor of civil engineering, was born 3 December 1918 in Stewarton, Ayrshire (Strathclyde), Scotland, son of James Wright, presbyterian minister; his mother's name is not known. He received his early education at Inverness Royal Academy and George…...
Wylie, Samuel Brown
Wylie, Samuel Brown (1773–1852), presbyterian minister, and oriental and classical scholar, was born 21 May 1773 at Moylarg, Co. Antrim, son of Adam Wylie, a prosperous farmer, and Margaret Wylie (née Brown). Educated locally, he entered the University of Glasgow, where he…...