Co. Londonderry

Gransden, Sir Robert (1893–1972), civil servant, was born 10 December 1893, at Glendermott, Derry city, second son of Robert Gransden, cabinetmaker, and Minnie Gransden (née Davidson). He was educated at a local national school and Foyle College in Derry city. In 1913 he took his…

Greacen, Robert Henry (1920–2008), poet and critic, was born on 24 October 1920 in Bennett Street, Derry city, only child of Henry Greacen and his wife Elizabeth (née McCrea). Henry Greacen, from a presbyterian farming background in north Co. Monaghan, had at one time held a…

Greer, Samuel McCurdy (1809–80), barrister, judge, and politician, was born 20 July 1809 in Springvale, Co. Londonderry, the eldest son of Rev. Thomas Greer, presbyterian minister of Dunboe, Co. Londonderry, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Adam Caldwell,…

Grundon, Michael Francis (1926–89), chemist, was born 21 June 1926 in London, son of H. S. Grundon and Sheila Lock. He was educated at Wellington school, Somerset, where he won a scholarship to read chemistry at Magdalen College, Oxford. He gained a second-class degree in natural…

Hamilton, William (1755–97), cleric and geologist, was born 16 December 1755 in Derry city, son of John Hamilton, merchant, and Elizabeth Hamilton (née Hope). He entered Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 1771 and had a distinguished academic career. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1776,…

Hanger, George (1751–1824), army officer, author, and eccentric, was born 13 October 1751 in Co. Londonderry, third son of Gabriel Hanger, 1st Lord Coleraine, MP and merchant, and Elizabeth Hanger (née Bond) of Cowbury, Hereford, England. Educated at Reading School and Eton, he…

Hanna, Samuel (1771–1852), presbyterian minister and professor, was born at Kellswater, Co. Antrim, fifth son of Robert Hanna of Kellswater, who may have been a farmer, or in trade, or both. His mother's name is not known. In 1789 he graduated MA…

Harkin, Hugh (1791–1854), journalist, teacher, poet, and nationalist, was born 6 July 1791 in Magilligan, Co. Derry. Little is known about his early life and education before he established a career as a teacher and journalist attached to various newspapers in both Britain and…

Haslett, Henry (1758?–1806), merchant and United Irishman, was born at Clooney, near Limavady, Co. Londonderry, a son of William Haslett. By 1778 he was engaged in commerce in Belfast; five years later, when he joined 65 other Belfast businessmen in forming a chamber of commerce (…

Heaney, Seamus Justin (1939–2013), poet, critic and translator, was born on 13 April 1939 on a farm called Mossbawn in the townland of Tamniarn near Castledawson, Co. Derry, the eldest of nine children (seven sons and two daughters) of Patrick Heaney, farmer and cattle-dealer, and his…

Hempson (O'Hempsy), Denis (1695?–1807), harpist, was born at Braigmore, near Garvagh in the parish of Aghadowey, Co. Londonderry, one of three children born to Brian ‘Darrogher’ (‘Livid’) O'Hempsy, a substantial farmer; his mother was from the townland of Woodtown nearby. An attack…

Henderson, Noel Joseph (1928–97), rugby player, was born 10 August 1928 in Drumahoe, Co. Londonderry. Educated at Foyle College, Derry, he later attended QUB and graduated B.Sc. He began playing…

Henry, Denis Stanislaus (1864–1925), lawyer and politician, was born 7 March 1864 in Cahore, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry, one of five sons and two daughters of James Henry, businessman, and Ellen Henry (née Kelly), both of Draperstown. Educated at the local national school, he…

Henry, Samuel (‘Sam’) (1878–1952), folk-song collector, was born in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, youngest among five sons of William Henry and Mary Henry (née Biggart). He had two sisters; one of his brothers became town clerk of Coleraine. Educated locally, he entered the customs…

Heron, (Mary) Dorothea (1896–1960), first woman to be admitted as a solicitor in Ireland, was born on 19 August 1896 at 68 Harcourt Street, Dublin, the home and solicitor’s office of her maternal grandparents, William and Dorothea Jameson. Usually known as Dorothea or ‘Deasie’ to her…

Hill, Sir George Fitzgerald (1763–1839), 2nd baronet, politician, was born 1 June 1763 in Co. Londonderry, the son of Sir Hugh Hill (c.1727–95), 1st baronet, of Brook Hall, and his second wife, Hannah Hill (née McClintock). The Hill family had substantial landholdings in…

Houston, Mary Galway (1871–p.1954), craftswoman, teacher, and author, was born 27 July 1871 at Coleraine Academical Institution, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, daughter of Thomas Galway Houston, headmaster of the institution, and Maud Steen Houston (née Millar). She trained (…

Howard, Gorges Edmond (1715–86), author of legal and dramatic works, was born 28 August 1715 in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, one of two sons of Francis Howard and Elizabeth Howard (née Jackson). Both families were prominent in Coleraine; the Jacksons, who had been involved in a long-…

Hughes, Francis (1956–81), republican paramilitary and hunger-striker, was born 28 February 1956 at Tamlaghtduff, near Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry, one of ten children of Joseph Hughes, a farmer with 20 acres, and his wife, Margaret (née McElwee). A brother, Oliver, was an Irish…

Hunter, Richard (‘Dicky’) Henry (1882/5–1970), anatomist and circus impresario, was born 15 May 1882/5 in Berbice, British Guiana (Guyana), son of parents (whose names remain unknown) from Portglenone, Co. Antrim, and was educated at Ballymena, Co. Antrim, at the Model School and…

Ingram, John (1887–1973), engineer, educationalist, and civil servant, was born 5 February 1887 in Derry, the son of William John Ingram, of Shipquay Street, Derry, a civil service clerk. He attended the Londonderry model school as a presbyterian, before transferring to St Columb'…

Irwin, James Alexander Hamilton (1876–1954), presbyterian minister and Irish nationalist, was born 3 July 1876 in Feeny, Co. Londonderry, the son of Samuel Hyndman Irwin and his wife Mary (née Hamilton). Educated at Magee College, Derry, and New College, Edinburgh, he took a master…

Irwin, Sir Samuel Thompson (1877–1961), surgeon, rugby player, and politician, was born 3 July 1877 in Limavady, Co. Londonderry, son of John Irwin of Limavady. He was educated at Foyle College, Derry, and QCB, where he graduated…

Johnston, William John (1868–1940), barrister and judge, was born on 18 January 1868 near Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, the eldest son of the seven children of James Johnston, merchant, and his wife, Sarah (née Davidson), of Belfast. The family motto was semper paratus. He…

Keenan, Brian Paschal (1941–2008), republican paramilitary, was born on 17 July 1941, in Dysert, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry, one of six children of Henry Keenan, an accountant, and his wife Jean (née McAlea). During the second world war Keenan's father served at Pocklington air base (…