Scotland

Mahony, Harold Sigerson (1867–1905), tennis player, was born 13 February 1867, probably in Edinburgh, only son of Richard John Mahony (1828–92) of Dromore Castle, near Kenmare, Co. Kerry, JP and high sheriff (1853), and his wife Mary…

Mastertown (Masterton), Charles (1679–1750), presbyterian minister and moderator, was born 23 March 1679 in Scotland, probably in Linlithgowshire, of unknown parents, though he was the nephew of Lady Huggonfield. He was educated at Edinburgh University, graduating…

Maxwell, William Hamilton (1792–1850), novelist, historian, and clergyman, was born 30 June 1792 in Market St., Newry, Co. Down, son of James Maxwell, merchant, and his wife, a daughter of William Hamilton. He witnessed the hanging of two United Irishmen in the town in 1798.…

McAteer, Edward Gerard (Eddie) (1914–86), politician, was born at Coatbridge, Scotland, in June 1914, the eldest of four sons of immigrants from Donegal. His parents were Hugh McAteer and Brigid McAteer, née O'Doherty. His father, a native Irish speaker from Fanad, moved the family to…

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,…

McCoubrey (Morrison), Margaret (1880–1956), suffragist and political activist, was born Margaret Mearns Morrison in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, on 5 January 1880, one of two daughters and a son of William Morrison, labourer, and his wife Elizabeth. Her mother had three…

McElroy, Albert Horatio (1915–75), politician and clergyman, was born 14 February 1915 in Glasgow, Scotland, second of three sons of Ulster-born parents; the family regularly holidayed with relatives in Banbridge, Co. Down. McElroy retained a lifelong love of things Scottish. The…

McGhee, Richard (1851–1930), trade unionist and politician, was baptised on 12 February 1851 in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, the eldest of three sons of Richard McGhee, a tenant farmer and later a shopkeeper, and his wife Alice. He claimed that at age 14, in protest against 'the bigotry and…

McGinty, Thom (‘The Diceman’) (1952–95), street performer, was born in Strathclyde, Scotland, one of two sons and two daughters of Thomas McGinty and Mary McGinty (maiden name unknown), a native of Co. Dublin. After training in Glasgow in theatre and as an artists’ model, he moved to…

McIlroy, Dame Anne Louise (1877–1968), professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, was born at Lavin House, Loughguile, Co. Antrim, eldest of four daughters of James McIlroy, doctor and JP, and Anna McIlroy (née Hamilton). She was educated in…

McLaughlin, Patrick John (‘Paddy’) (1899–1973), priest and physicist, was reputedly born in Scotland. The early part of his life was spent in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, where his father was a publican. He entered Maynooth College, where he studied science (…

McNab, William Ramsay (1844–89), botanist, was born 9 November 1844 in Edinburgh, the only son of James McNab (1810–78), who, like his own father, was curator of Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. McNab was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and went on to study medicine and botany at…

McPeake, John (‘Jock’) (1894–1974), soldier, was born and raised in Glasgow, son of an Irish immigrant family (his mother's name was Logan) from Co. Tyrone. He enlisted for war service in the British army in 1915, first with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, but in 1916 joined…

McSparran, James (1892–1970), lawyer and politician, was born 1 May 1892 in Glasgow, Scotland, third among five sons of James McSparran, farmer and merchant of Cushendun, Co. Antrim, and Albert Road, Glasgow, and Ann (Annie) McSparran (née McDonnell), farmer's daughter from north…

McTier, Samuel (1737/8–1795), merchant, notary public, and United Irishman, was in business as a chandler in Belfast for many years. He was probably a son of a Belfast merchant with interests in the overseas trade, Samuel McTier (1689?–1773) of Peter's Hill. With his first wife (of…

Mecredy, Richard James Patrick (1861–1924), cyclist and journalist, was born 18 May 1861 at Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, son of the Rev. James Mecredy, DD, a Church of Ireland clergyman then in the parish of Inveran, Spiddal, Co. Galway.…

Molloy, Gerald (1834–1906), priest and scientist, was born 10 September 1834 in Mount Tallant House, Terenure, Co. Dublin, second son of Thomas Molloy, tanner, and Catherine Molloy (née Whelan). He was educated first at a private school and then at Castleknock College. He entered…

Montgomery, George (c.1569–1621), Church of Ireland bishop, was probably born in 1569 (the inscription on his gravestone states that he was 51 years old when he died in January 1621). The second son of Adam Montgomery, laird of Braidstane, Ayrshire, Scotland, he was…

Moore, Charles (1820–1905), botanist and horticulturist, was born 10 May 1820 in Dundee, Scotland, son of Charles Moir, gardener, and Helen Moir (née Rattray). Of their nine children only seven survived infancy, one daughter and six sons. In 1830 the Moir family changed their name…

Moore, David (1808–79), botanist and horticulturist, was born 23 April 1808 in Dundee, Scotland, eldest son of Charles Moir, gardener, and Helen Moir (née Rattray). Of their nine children only seven survived infancy, one daughter and six sons. In 1830 the Moir family changed their…

Moore, Sir John (1761–1809), British soldier, was born 13 November 1761 in Trongate, Glasgow, eldest surviving son of Dr John Moore (1729–1802), distinguished physician and author, and his wife, Jeanie, daughter of the Rev. John Simson, professor of divinity at Glasgow University.…

Moynihan, John (Seán) Power (1892–1964), secretary to the executive council and assistant secretary of the Department of Finance, was born 19 January 1892 in Cork city, second child and second son of Maurice Moynihan (1864–1918) and Mary Moynihan (née Power), and had four younger…

Neill (Neil), Patrick (1665?–1705?), printer, was born in Glasgow, and was probably the same as the Patrick Neill, bookbinder, who in 1691 was admitted a burgess of that city and guild brother in right of his father. His parents were most likely David Neill and Mary Hamilton, whose…

Nevin, Thomas (c.1686–1744), presbyterian minister, was born at Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, grandson of Hugh Nevin, vicar at Donaghadee, Co. Down. Educated at Glasgow College, he graduated MA (1703). On 20 November 1711 he was…

Niall Frossach (718–78), son of Fergal and king of Tara, belonged to the Uí Néill dynasty of Cenél nÉogain. His father, Fergal (qv) son of Máel-dúin, was slain in 722 and his half-brother Áed Allán (qv)…