Co. Londonderry

McClelland, John Alexander (1870–1920), physicist, was born in Dunalis in the parish of Dunboe, near Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, and was baptised on 1 December 1870, youngest among eleven children of William McClelland, a presbyterian farmer, and Margaret McClelland (née Morrison).…

McComb, William (1793–1873), journalist and poet, was born 17 August 1793 at Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, son of Thomas McComb, linen manufacturer and draper, and his wife (née Foster). The ‘pushing and ambitious’ Thomas soon afterwards moved his family and business to Derry city…

McCorkell, Sir Dudley Evelyn Bruce (1883–1960), businessman and mayor, was born in 1883 in Ballyarnet, Derry, eldest son of David Browne McCorkell, barrister, of Ballyarnet, and his wife Eveleen Georgina Harriett Pakenham of Ballyarnett, Co. Londonderry. He was educated at…

McCormack, Inez Jane Mary (née Murphy) (1943–2013), human rights activist and trade unionist, was born on 28 September 1943 in Belfast to Francis Cecil Murphy, a printer, and his wife, Margaret Murphy (née Sterritt), a nurse. She had one older brother, Terence (b. 1942). When Inez was…

McCormick, Arthur David (1860–1943), illustrator, landscape painter, and designer, was born 14 October 1860 in Church St., Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, youngest son of Arthur McCormick. He was educated in Coleraine and in the Government School of Design, Belfast. He travelled to…

McCormick, Liam (1916–96), architect, was born William Henry Dunleavy McCormick on 24 October 1916 at 25 Clarendon St., Derry city, son of Hugh McCormick, a prosperous dentist, and Mary Christina McCormick (née Breslin). His parents came from prominent, prosperous catholic…

McCullough, John Edward (1832–1885), actor, was born on 14 November 1832 in the family home in the townland of Blakes in Dunboe, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, the second of four children (one boy, three girls) to James McCullough, a presbyterian small farmer, and his wife Mary. Mary died…

McGill, Patrick (‘Paddy’) (1913–77), journalist and politician, was born 4 October 1913 in Great James Street, Derry city, the son of Patrick McGill, a publican of Great James Street, and his second wife Mary (née Duffy). He earned a scholarship to St Columb's College, Derry, but left…

McGlinchey, Dominic (1954–94), republican paramilitary, was born in 1954, at Bellaghy, Co. Derry. Educated locally, he became involved in the civil rights movement in 1969 and, following a brief apprenticeship at his father's garage, was interned without trial in August 1971.…

McGregor, James (1677?–1729), presbyterian minister and emigrants' leader, was born in Magilligan, Co. Londonderry, one of two known sons of Capt. McGregor, who also had at least one daughter; nothing is known of his mother. During the Williamite war the family took refuge in Derry city…

McGrotty, Eamon (1911–37), Christian Brother and socialist republican, was born 12 July 1911 in Derry city, fourth child among four sons and two daughters of Edward McGrotty, a well-off cattle-dealer and shopowner, and Catherine McGrotty (née Kennedy), daughter of a prosperous…

McGuinness, Charles John (1893–1947), sailor and adventurer, was born 6 March 1893 in Derry city, elder of two sons of John McGuinness, sea-captain and harbourmaster, and Margaret McGuinness (née Hernand). In 1908, at the age of 15, McGuinness left home, stowing away in a ship and…

McGuinness, Jim (James Pearse) (1920–2008), print and broadcast journalist, was born in Derry city on 17 February 1920, one of four children of William McGuinness, publican, of Dungiven Road, Waterside, Derry, and his wife Anastasia (née O'Doherty), a nurse. From a republican family…

McGuinness, Norah (1901–80), painter, was born 7 November 1901 in Derry city, eldest daughter of Joseph Allison McGuinness, coal merchant and shipowner, of Lawrence Hill, Derry, and Jessie McGuinness (maiden name unknown). She was educated at Victoria High School, known for its…

McIvor, Berna (1932–2010), political and community activist, was born Bernadette Spellman on 9 February 1932 in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. She trained as a teacher at St Mary's College, Belfast, and taught in the Long Tower primary school (in the Bogside area of Derry city) and later in…

McKenna, Daniel (1892–1975), army officer and chief of staff, was born 1 December 1892 at Bracareilly, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry, son of Peter McKenna, farmer, and Mary Anne McKenna (née McKenna). He was educated at Lisnamuck national school at Maghera, Co. Londonderry, before…

Michelburne (Michelborne, Mitchelburne), John (c.1648–1721), soldier, governor of Derry, playwright, was born on 2 January 1648 in Sussex, the only child of Abraham Michelburne and his wife, Penelope (née Wheeler), who died during the birth. Michelburne was baptised 8 January…

Mitchel, John (1815–75), nationalist and journalist, was born on 3 November 1815 at Camnish, near Dungiven, Co. Londonderry, eldest surviving child among two sons and four daughters of John Mitchel (1781–1840), presbyterian minister of the Dungiven congregation, and his wife Mary…

Moore, Robert (1886–1960), farmer, politician, and presbyterian minister, was born 26 September 1886 at Ballymacannon, Ringsend, near Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, son of Kennedy Moore, whose family had farmed in the area for generations, and Mary Elizabeth Moore (née McFetridge).…

Mulholland, Sir Henry George Hill (‘Harry’) (1888–1971), 1st baronet, MP and company director, was born 20 December 1888 at Ballywalter, Co. Down, second surviving son of Henry Lyle Mulholland, 2nd Baron Dunleath, MP, and Norah Louisa Fanny Mulholland (née Somerset Ward). He was…

Mullin, (Thomas) Hugh (1914–2006), presbyterian minister and historian, was born 22 September 1914 at Irish Green Street, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, second son in a family of four boys of John Barbour Mullin and his wife Effie (née Black). Both his parents were teachers. Hugh was…

Murray, Sir James (1788–1871), doctor and chemist, was born in Co. Londonderry, probably in Culrady, near Maghera, eldest son of Edward Murray and Belinda Murray (née Powell). He was brought up as a Roman catholic; he had at least two brothers, and possibly other siblings. His brother…

Nicolson, William (1655–1727), bishop of Derry, politician, and scholar, was born 3 June 1655 at Great Orton in Cumberland, the eldest of three sons and three daughters of Joseph Nicolson (1623–86), rector of Plumbland, and his wife, Mary (d. 1689), daughter of John Brisco, a puritan…

O'Connor, John (1830–89), painter, was born 12 August 1830 in Co. Londonderry, third son of Francis O'Connor and Rose O'Connor (née Cunningham) of Bath. He was orphaned at the age of 12 and went to live with his uncle, who held the lease of the Liverpool and Belfast theatres; O'…

O'Doherty, Eamonn (1939–2011), artist, musician and teacher, was born on 18 June 1939 in Derry city, one of two sons and two daughters of Thomas O'Doherty, primary school teacher, and his wife Sara (née McElwee), from Co. Tyrone; his three siblings all became teachers. Reared in…