Dougan, (Alexander) Derek
Dougan, (Alexander) Derek (1938–2007), footballer and author, was born 20 January 1938 at 41 Susan Street in the Newtownards Road district of east Belfast, the eldest of six children (three boys and three girls) of John 'Jackie' Dougan, a boilermaker at the Harland and Wolff…...
Dowden, Edward
Dowden, Edward (1843–1913), literary critic, academic, and unionist, was born 3 May 1843, second son of John Wheeler Dowden and Alicia Dowden (née Bennett); his elder brother was John Dowden (qv). He was educated privately at first,…...
Downes, William
Downes, William (1751–1826), 1st Baron Downes of Aghanville , lord chief justice, was born in Donnybrook, Co. Dublin, the third and only surviving son of six children of Robert Downes, MP for Kildare borough (1735–54), and his wife, Elizabeth Downes, the daughter of Thomas Twigge…...
Drew, Catherine
Drew, Catherine (1832–1910), journalist and writer, was born 27 May 1832 in Broughshane, Co. Antrim, the third of eight daughters of the Rev. Thomas Drew (qv), DD, curate of the joint parish of St Patricks, Skerry and Racavan in Broughshane (…...
Du Bois, Lady Dorothea
Du Bois, Lady Dorothea (Annesley ) (1728–74), poet, novelist, and playwright, was born in Dublin, the eldest of seven daughters of Richard Annesley (qv), Lord Altham, later 6th earl of Anglesey, and his wife, Ann (née Simpson),…...
Duff, Charles St Lawrence
Duff, Charles St Lawrence (1894–1966) author, barrister and linguist, was born on 7 April 1894 in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, the youngest of ten children to grow to adulthood of John Duff, secretary of the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway, and his wife Anne Marie Duff (…...
Dunkin, William
Dunkin, William (1707?–65), poet and schoolmaster, was born in Dublin, son of Patrick Dunkin (d. 1719?), gentleman, who may have been briefly curate of Dromiskin, Co. Louth, before his early death. William's mother apparently also died young, but nothing else is known of her. In 1720…...
Edgeworth, Richard Lovell
Edgeworth, Richard Lovell (1744–1817), landowner, inventor, and writer, was born 31 May 1744 in Bath, Somerset, second son and seventh among eight children of Richard Edgeworth, lawyer and landowner, and his wife Jane, daughter of Samuel Lovell, a Welsh judge. Of the children only…...
Ennis, John James
This is a co-subject for the entry on Ennis, Sir John. View the original entry....
Ervine, St John Greer
Ervine, St John Greer (1883–1971), Ulster dramatist, critic, and biographer, was born John Greer Ervine on 28 December 1883 in Belfast, son of William Ervine, printer, and Sarah Jane Ervine (née Greer), who may have been a deaf-mute. Ervine's father died soon after his birth. He…...
Eyre, Robert Hedges
Eyre, Robert Hedges (c.1770–1840), landowner and developer, was born at Macroom, Co. Cork, the younger of two sons (there were also two daughters) of Richard Hedges Eyre, and his wife, Helena Eyre (née Herbert) of Muckross, Co. Kerry. The family owned large estates in Co…...
Farquhar, George
Farquhar, George (1677?–1707), playwright, was born in Derry, son of an anglican clergyman (his parents’ names are unknown), and educated in Derry at the Free Grammar School under Ellis Walker. The details of Farquhar's life remain scanty, in spite of his fame, and modern scholars have…...
Farrell, James Gordon
Farrell, James Gordon (1935–79), novelist, was born 23 January 1935 in Liverpool, England, second of three sons of William Farrell, broker's clerk and accountant, and Josephine Farrell (née Russell), born in Ireland of an English timber dealer. He moved with his family to…...
Fitton (Fytton, Phitton), Sir Edward
Fitton (Fytton, Phitton), Sir Edward (1548?–1606), the younger, of Gawsworth, Cheshire, undertaker in Munster, was son and heir of Sir Edward Fitton (qv) the elder, vice-treasurer of Ireland, and Anne, daughter of Sir Peter…...
Fitzgerald, Augustus Frederick
Fitzgerald, Augustus Frederick (1791–1874), 3rd duke of Leinster , grand master of the freemasons of Ireland, was born 21 August 1791 at Carton, Co. Kildare, eldest child of William Robert Fitzgerald (1748–1804), 2nd duke of Leinster, and his wife, Emilia Olivia, daughter of the…...
Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose-
Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose- (1846–1939), novelist and catholic convert, was born 27 January 1846, youngest daughter of Robert Uniacke Penrose-Fitzgerald and his wife Frances Matilda (née Austen); she had at least three brothers and one sister. The Penrose-…...
Fitzgerald, Gerald
Fitzgerald, Gerald (1525–85), 11th earl of Kildare , was the son of Gerald FitzGerald (qv), 9th earl of Kildare, and his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Grey, marquis of Dorset. He was born on…...
Fitzgerald, James
Fitzgerald, James
Fitzgerald, James (1722–73), 20th earl of Kildare and 1st duke of Leinster , politician, was born 29 May 1722 in Dublin, second son of Robert Fitzgerald (1675–1744), 19th earl of Kildare, and his wife Mary (d. 1780), eldest daughter of William O'Brien, 3rd earl of Inchiquin. He…...
Fitzgerald (Lennox), Emily (Emilia Mary)
Fitzgerald (Lennox), Emily (Emilia Mary) (1731–1814), duchess of Leinster , was born on 6 October 1731 and baptised at St George's church, Hanover Square, London, the second surviving daughter of Charles Lennox, second duke of Richmond, who was grandson of Charles II and his…...
Fitzgerald, William Robert
Fitzgerald, William Robert (1749–1804), 2nd duke of Leinster , Volunteer colonel, was born 13 March 1749 in Arlington Place, Piccadilly, London, the second son of nine sons and ten daughters of James Fitzgerald (qv), 20th earl of…...
FitzGibbon, John
FitzGibbon, John (1748–1802), 1st earl of Clare , lawyer and politician, was born in Donnybrook, Co. Dublin, one of seven children of John Fitzgibbon (qv), a barrister and MP who had converted from catholicism, and his wife Elinor,…...
Fitzgibbon, John Charles Henry
Fitzgibbon, John Charles Henry (1829–54?), Viscount Fitzgibbon and soldier, was born 2 May 1829 at Mountshannon House, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, the only legitimate son of Richard Hobart Fitzgibbon, 3rd earl of Clare, and his wife Diana, daughter of Charles Brydges Woodcock,…...
Forbes, Sir Arthur
Forbes, Sir Arthur (1656–1734), 2nd earl of Granard , soldier and Jacobite, was eldest son of Arthur Forbes (qv), later 1st earl of Granard, and his wife Catherine Stewart. He saw service in the French army prior to 1675. After…...
Fortescue, Sir Faithful
Fortescue, Sir Faithful (c. 1580–1666), royalist army officer and settler, was the second son of William Fortescue (d. 1604) of Buckland, Filleigh, Devon, and his second wife, Susannah Chichester, daughter of Sir John Chichester of Raleigh in Kent. About 1604–5, at a very…...