France

Quin, Michael Joseph (1796–1843), journalist and travel writer, was born in Co. Tipperary, the son of Morty Quin, a catholic distiller from Thurles. He entered TCD in 1811, but there is no record of his graduation. Called to the bar at…

Rafroidi, Patrick (1930–89), scholar, university professor, and administrator, was born 15 June 1930 in Arpajon, Essonne, France, elder son and second among four children of Gaston Rafroidi, from Arpajon, of middle-class extraction, and his wife Constance (‘Connie’) O'Rahilly, from…

Reynolds, Thomas (1771–1836), heir to a fortune, United Irishman, informer and consul, was born at his father's house, 9 West Park St., Dublin, on 12 March 1771. His family history is well documented. His great-great-grandfather was Connor Reynolds of Rhynn Castle, Co. Leitrim, who…

Roberts, Frederick Sleigh (1832–1914), 1st Earl Roberts, field-marshal, was born 30 September 1832 at Cawnpore, India, youngest son of Gen. Sir Abraham Roberts, East India Company (EIC) army, and his second wife, Isabella, widow of Maj. Hamilton Maxwell and daughter of Abraham Bunbury…

Rocque, John (Jean) (c.1704–1762), cartographer, surveyor, and landscape designer, was born in France into a huguenot family of four children. After spending some time in Geneva, Rocque arrived in England (c.1709). His earliest published works, consisting mainly…

Rolland, Pierre (1912–93), chef, was born 29 March 1912 in Frépillon, Val-d'Oise, near Paris, an only child whose father (first name unknown) was a butcher but died in the first world war. His widowed mother Georgette (née Pouyaut) married Louis Dufond, a hotelier; they had one son…

Rothe (Roth, Root), Michael (1661/5–1741), general in the French service and Jacobite, was born in Kilkenny on 29 September 1661/5, second son of Edward Rothe (‘Fitzpeter’) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Capt. James Archdekin of the King's Regiment of Foot Guards. Although…

Routh, Bernard (1695–1768), Jesuit in France and confessor to Montesquieu, was born 11 February 1695 at Godramstein, Alsace, France, son of Capt. William Rothe, soldier, and Margaret Rothe (née O'Dogherty). From an early age he decided on a career in the priesthood and, after…

Samuels, Arthur Warren (1852–1925), lawyer, was born 19 May 1852 in Dublin, second son of Arthur Samuels, of Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, and Katherine Samuels (née Daly) of Mornington, Co. Meath. He was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, and…

Sears, David (1899–51), newspaper proprietor, journalist, playwright, was born 24 May 1899 in the family home at Parnell Street, Wexford town, son of William Sears (qv), proprietor of the Enniscorthy Echo, and his wife, Gretta (née…

Sheridan, Frances (née Chamberlaine) (1724–66), writer, was born in Dublin, the youngest child among three sons and two daughters of Philip Chamberlaine , a Church of Ireland clergyman who was rector of St Nicholas Without, and Anastasia Chamberlaine (née Whyte), his English-born…

Sheridan, Thomas (1646–1712), writer, royal official, and Jacobite, was born in St John's, near Trim, Co. Meath, fourth son of Denis Sheridan (qv), a Church of Ireland clergyman from Co. Cavan, and an Englishwoman named Foster. In the rebellion of 1641…

Sidney (Sydney), Henry (1641–1704), Viscount Sidney, lord lieutenant of Ireland (1692–3), of London and Kent, was born in Paris c. March 1641, fourth son of Robert Sidney, 2nd earl of Leicester (d. 1677), and his wife Lady Dorothy (d. 1659), daughter of Henry Percy, earl of…

Sjoestedt (-Jonval), Marie-Louise (1900–40), Irish-language scholar, was born 20 September 1900 in Saint-Thomas (département Aisne), France, where her family used to spend holidays. Her father, Erik-Valentin Sjoestedt, was a Swedish diplomat working at the Swedish legation…

Skeffington, Andrée Sheehy- (1910–98), feminist, was born in Amiens, France, eldest among one daughter and three sons of Eugene Denis and Germaine Denis (née Fontaine), both schoolteachers of socialist and pacifist inclination. The relationship between her family and that of her…

Smithson, Harriet Constance (1800–54), actress and wife of Hector Berlioz , was born 18 March 1800 in Ennis, Co. Clare, daughter of William Joseph Smithson, actor and theatrical manager, originally from Gloucestershire, England. Details of her mother are scarce and she is usually…

Stephens, William Lawson (‘Billie’) (1911–97), naval officer, was born 9 August 1911 in Belfast, son of Edward Rowley Stephens, shipping agent and timber merchant, of Kinnegar, Holywood, and Lilian Stephens (née Dash). Educated locally, he later attended Shrewsbury School before…

Sutton, Thomas (c.1722–1782), comte de Clonard , soldier, merchant, and financier, was born in Co. Wexford; nothing is known of his parents. Emigrating to France and settling in Bordeaux, he enlisted as an officer in Walsh's Irish Brigade, eventually becoming adjutant-…

Swiney (Sweeney), John (1773–1844), United Irishman, was born 10 August 1773 in Cork city, son of Daniel Sweeny and Elenor Sweeny (née Anglim). By the early 1790s he ran a large woollen drapery on Shandon St., Cork. In c.1794 he became enthusiastically involved in the…

Taaffe, Francis (1639–1704), 4th Viscount Taaffe and 3rd earl of Carlingford soldier , and diplomat, was born at Ballymote, Co. Sligo, second son (third, according to Murtagh) of Theobald Taaffe (qv), 2nd Viscount and 1st earl of…

Tabary, James (fl. 1650–87), sculptor, was born in France of huguenot origins. He is almost certainly the ‘Jacques Tabouré’ who was admitted to the academy of St Luke, Paris, in August 1655. His two brothers, Louis and John, were also carvers. Sculptors with the surname…

Talbot, John (1384–1453), earl of Shrewsbury and of Waterford , second son of Richard Talbot, Lord Talbot, and Ankaret, daughter of John, Lord le Strange, was one of the foremost soldiers of his generation. He served with Henry, prince of Wales (later Henry V), in Wales; was…

Talbot, Richard Francis (1710–52), titular earl of Tyrconnell, soldier, and diplomat, was baptised 26 December 1710 at Saint-Germain, France, son of Richard Talbot (d. 1716), who styled himself Lord Talbot from 1691 and had married his cousin Charlotte Talbot (1676?–1721), only…

Tandy, James Napper (1737?–1803), merchant, Volunteer, and radical politician, was born probably in the Cornmarket, Dublin. His father, James (1706?–1790), was one of six sons of John Tandy (d. 1741), who had land at Drewstown, near Kells, Co. Meath. James was a member of the guild…

Thomas of Lancaster (1388–1421), duke of Clarence , lieutenant of Ireland, and seneschal of England, was second son of Henry IV, and was appointed lieutenant of Ireland in July 1401 to secure a Lancastrian presence in the lordship. He arrived in Ireland in November 1401; but because…