Co. Down

Faulkner, (Arthur) Brian Deane (1921–77), Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick , prime minister of Northern Ireland, was born 18 February 1921 at Helen's Bay, Co. Down, elder son of a self-made businessman of Belfast, James Alexander Faulkner, and his wife, Nora Lillian Deane. Family…

Faulkner, Lucy (Barbara Ethel) (née Forsythe) (1925–2012), Lady Faulkner of Downpatrick, political private secretary and public figure, was born on 1 July 1925, the only daughter of William James Forsythe, JP (d. 1954), and his wife Jane Ethel (née Sewell); she had an older brother. Her…

Ferguson, Henry George (‘Harry’) (1884–1960), engineer, was born 4 November 1884 in the townland of Growell, near Anahilt, between Hillsborough and Dromore, Co. Down, third son and fourth child among eight sons and three daughters of James Ferguson, a prosperous farmer, and Mary…

Ferris, Samuel (1900–1980), long-distance athlete, was born 29 August 1900 in Magherabeg, near Dromore, Co. Down, the son of Samuel Ferris, labourer, and his wife, Mary, née Clarke. His family emigrated to Glasgow where, at the age of sixteen, Samuel joined the Shettleston Harriers…

Finlay, Francis Dalzell (1793–1857), journalist and printer, was born 12 July 1793 at Newtownards, Co. Down, son of John Finlay, tenant farmer. He joined the Belfast Monthly Magazine (1812–14) as a printer, and when it closed he set up his own printing press at Joy's Entry…

Fisher, Joseph Robert (1855–1939), journalist and unionist, was born in Raffrey, Co. Down, youngest among three sons and one daughter of the Rev. Ringland Fisher, presbyterian minister and his wife Sarah, née English. He was educated at the…

Foreman, Sir Philip Frank (1923–2013), engineer and chief executive, was born on 16 March 1923 in Exning, Suffolk, England, the only child of Frank Foreman, a farm labourer of Exning, and his wife Mary (née Chapple), the daughter of a Manchester police officer. His family soon moved to…

Foster, Lydia Mary (1867–1943), writer and schoolteacher, was born in Newmills, Co. Tyrone in 1867, fourth of six children (three sons and three daughters) of James Foster, presbyterian minister of Newmills congregation 1850–90, and his wife Lydia (née Harkness), from a presbyterian…

Friers, Rowel Boyd (1920–98), cartoonist and painter, was born 13 April 1920 in Ravenhill Road, Belfast, youngest among six children of William Friers (d. 1926), a cashier in Irish Distillery, and Nellie Friers (née Stevenson). Rowel was educated at Park Parade intermediate school. All…

Galway, Mary (1864–1928), trade unionist, was born 6 September 1864 in Taglanneg, Moira, Co. Down, daughter of Henry Galway and Elizabeth Galway (née Magennis), linen weavers. She later moved with her family to Belfast, living initially in 85 Leeson St., before settling in 31 Crocus…

Gibson, William (1753–1838), Reformed Presbyterian minister, was born 1 July 1753 near Knockbracken, Co. Down, son of Robert Gibson, farmer, and his wife Susanna (née McWhirr). He was brought up as an orthodox presbyterian, but during his studies at Glasgow University (where he…

Gilbert (Gille, Gilla, Gilli) (d. 1145), first bishop of Limerick and papal legate at the synod of Ráith Bressail (1111), was possibly of Norse-Irish birth, as may be inferred from the forms of his name: Gilla as he himself wrote it in Latin, and Gilli as it…

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…

Gillespie, Sir Robert Rollo (1766–1814), British army general, was born 21 January 1766 in Comber, Co. Down, the only child of Robert Gillespie (d. 1791) and his third wife, who was either the sister or daughter of James Bailie, MP for Hillsborough. He was educated at Norland House…

Glass, (John) Basil Caldwell (1926–2005), politician, lawyer, and judge, was born 21 May 1926 in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, eldest of two sons and one daughter of John Glass (1894–1956), methodist minister, and his wife Muriel Florence (née Caldwell), whose father was also a methodist…

Glover (Betterton), Julia (Juliana) (1779/81–1850), actress, was born 8 February in Newry, Co. Down, in either 1779 or 1781. Both her parents, Thomas Betterton, a native of Dublin, who changed his name from Butterton for professional reasons, and his wife, formerly a Mrs Palmer,…

Gordon, Alexander (1818–87), professor of surgery, was born in Saintfield, Co. Down, in 1818, the son of Alexander Gordon, surgeon and physician at Saintfield. Initially educated in Belfast, he received his medical training at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated…

Gordon, John (1849–1922), high court judge and politician, was born in Co. Down on 23 November 1849, eldest son of Samuel Gordon, of Shankill House, Co. Down, and his wife Arabella Barclay. A presbyterian, he was educated at the …

Gordon, William Robert (1872–1955), painter, was born 19 August 1872 at Ballynahinch, Co. Down, the son of William Gordon, a gardener, and Nancy Gordon (née Moffat). He was educated at the Southwell school, Downpatrick, before going to England at age 14 to work in the Port Sunlight…

Gorman, (Sir) John Reginald (1923–2014), soldier, policeman, businessman, civil servant and politician, was born on 1 February 1923 at Mullaghmore House, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, the eldest of four children of Major John Kearney (Jack) Gorman (1891–1980), an RUC officer, and his…

Goudy, Alexander Porter (1809–58), presbyterian minister, was born in February 1809 on a farm at Ballyobican, Ballywalter, Co. Down, youngest son among three sons and two daughters of Andrew Goudy, presbyterian minister, and his wife Matilda, daughter of the Rev.…

Graham, William (1839–1911), academic, writer, philosopher, and economist, was born at Saintfield, Co. Down, son of Alexander Graham, farmer and horse-dealer, and Maria Graham (née Crawford). Educated at the Educational Institute, Dundalk, on a scholarship, he later worked as a…

Grey, Mona Elizabeth Clara (1910–2009), nurse, was born 24 September 1910 in Westridge, Rawalpindi, in the Punjab, then in India, the daughter of Albert Edward Grey and Grace Grey (née Dassing or Dashing). At the time of her birth her father was working as a guard on the North Western…

Haddick, Victor Anderson (1887–1950), soldier, traveller, writer, and film maker and promoter, was born 14 June 1887 at Crinkill (Crinkle), Parsonstown (Birr), King's Co. (Offaly), the eldest son of Richard J. Haddick, a soldier, and his wife Jane Anne (née Anderson). He was educated…

Haliday, Alexander Henry (1806–70), naturalist, was born 21 November 1806 at Holywood, Co. Down, the eldest child of William Haliday (1763–1838), a well-known Belfast physician and a founding subscriber of the Belfast Academical Institute, and his wife Marian (née Webster).…