Co. Antrim

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 (…

Drummond, James Lawson (1783/4–1853), professor of anatomy, was born in Larne, Co. Antrim, younger son of William Drummond, naval surgeon, and Rose Drummond (née Hare). His elder brother was William Hamilton Drummond (qv) (d…

Drummond, William Hamilton (1778–1865), unitarian minister, theologian, poet, scholar, and controversialist, was born in August or September 1778 at Larne, Co. Antrim. He was the second of three children of William Drummond, a Royal Navy surgeon, and his wife Rose (née Hare), a native…

Duncan, George Alexander (1902–2006), economist, was born 15 May 1902 in the family home in Bridge Street, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, the second son of Alexander Duncan, a physician and surgeon, and his wife Elizabeth (née Linn). He was educated at Ballymena Academy and Campbell College…

Dundee, John Wharry (1921–91), anaesthetist, was born 8 November 1921 at Ballynure, Larne, Co. Antrim, the son of William Wharry Dundee, farmer, and Tillie Dundee (née McRoberts). Educated locally at Ballyclare High School, he later entered Queen's University, Belfast (1939),…

Dunlop, Robert (1960–2008), motorcycle racer, was born 25 November 1960, fourth child among three sons and four daughters (including his twin sister Margaret) of William Dunlop, a motor mechanic, and his wife May (née Barkley), of Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, where Robert attended school.…

Dunlop, William Joseph (‘Joey’) (1952–2000), racing motorcyclist, was born 25 February 1952 at Unshinagh, near Dunloy, Co. Antrim, second among seven children of William Dunlop, motor mechanic, and his wife May (née Barkley). Joey received his early education at Ballymoney High School,…

Du Noyer, George Victor (1817–69), antiquarian, geologist, and artist, was probably born in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, the eldest son of Louis Victor du Noyer, a teacher of French and music, and his wife, Margaret du Bédat, who ran a school for young ladies. Both parents were of Huguenot…

Eaton, Timothy (1834–1907), merchant in Canada, was born in March 1834 in the townland of Clougher, near Ballymena, Co. Antrim, fourth son among nine children of John Eaton and Margaret Eaton (née Craig). His father died two months before Timothy was born, and Margaret Eaton…

Foley, Samuel (1655–95), Church of Ireland bishop, was born 25 November 1655 in Boate St., Clonmel, Tipperary, eldest among at least three sons of Samuel Foley, who had come to Ireland from England as a captain in the forces of …

Fowke, Francis (1823–65), captain in the Royal Engineers, architect, and engineer, was born 7 July 1823 at Ballysillan, Belfast, Co. Antrim, elder of two sons of John Fowke (1794–1851), lieutenant of the 68th Regiment of Foot, and his first wife, Jane (née Ferguson; d. 1828). He was…

Fulton, Robert Patrick (1906–79), soccer player, was born 6 November 1906 in Gardenmore Place, Larne, Co. Antrim, son of John Fulton, mercantile clerk, and Maggie Fulton (née Purdy). He played soccer as a youth in the Falls Park League and had joined Belfast Celtic as a full back by…

Gaine, Hugh (1726–1807), printer and newspaper editor in New York, was born in Portglenone, Co. Antrim, the son of Hugh Gaine, possibly a merchant. There was at least one other son, who also emigrated. The family was Church of Ireland, although in a 1766 religious census family…

Gallagher, (Robert David) Eric (1913–99), methodist minister and ecumenist, was born on 24 August 1913 in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, the eldest of five children (two sons and three daughters) of Robert Gallagher, a methodist minister from Co. Fermanagh, and his wife Helen (née McIlroy)…

Gibson, William (1808–67), presbyterian minister, was born 1 May 1808 in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, son of James Gibson and Mary Gibson (possibly née Cumming), shopkeepers; a brother died as an infant, and he had at least one sister. William received a good education in Ballymena and…

Gilbert, Stephen (1912–2010), writer and businessman, was born on 22 July 1912 in Newcastle, Co. Down, eldest of five children (two sons and three daughters) of William Gilbert (1862–1935), director of Samuel McCausland and Co. tea and seed merchants (founded 1825), and his second wife…

Gowan, Thomas (1631–83), presbyterian minister and philosophy teacher, was born in Caldermuir, Scotland, an undeveloped region on the western border of Edinburghshire. His parentage is not known. He studied at the College of Edinburgh, where he graduated…

Graham, Edgar Samuel David (1954–1983), politician, was born 24 February 1954 at Massereene Hospital, Antrim, son of David Norman Graham of Whinney Hill, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, and his wife Annie Matilda (née Graham); he had one sister. Grahams had farmed in Randalstown for centuries…

Grainger, John (1830–1891), clergyman and antiquarian, was born 19 March 1830 in Queen St., Belfast the eldest of six children (four boys and two girls) of David Grainger, a wealthy shipowner, and Maria (or Mary) Belinda Grainger (née Parke) of Whiteabbey, near Belfast. He…

Grimshaw, Beatrice Ethel (1870–1953), author and traveller, was born 3 February 1870 at Cloona House, Dunmurry, Co. Antrim, fourth child among two sons and four daughters of Nicholas William Grimshaw of Belfast, former director of the Ulster Spinning Company turned wine-and-oil merchant…

Grimshaw, Thomas Wrigley (1839–1900), surgeon and medical statistician, was born 16 November 1839 at Whitehouse, near Belfast, Co. Antrim, the son of Wrigley Grimshaw (d. 1878), FRCS,…

Grimshaw, William (1782–1852), author, was born 22 November 1782 in Greencastle, Co. Antrim, eighth child of Nicholas Grimshaw (qv), originally of Blackburn, England, but settled in Belfast, and Mary Grimshaw (née Wrigley).…

Gwynn, John (1827–1917), clergyman and scholar, was born 28 August 1827 in Larne, Co. Antrim, eldest son among four sons and two daughters of the Rev. Stephen Gwynne, rector of Agherton, Co. Londonderry, and Mary Gwynne (née Stevens or Stevenson). Their mother drowned at…

Hackett, Thomas (d. 1697), deprived Church of Ireland bishop of Down and Connor, is said to have been born in England but the date and exact place of his birth and the identity of his parents are unknown. Educated at TCD, where he…

Hamilton, William James (1903–75), anatomist, was born 21 July 1903 in Ballytober, Islandmagee, Co. Antrim, to Andrew Hamilton, master mariner, and Emeline Gertrude Hamilton (née Hunter). Educated at QUB, he obtained a…