USA

Grace, William Russell (1832–1904), international capitalist and mayor of New York City, was born 10 May 1832 in Riverstown, Co. Cork, while his family was on holiday, eldest son among four sons and three daughters of James Grace, farmer, and Ellen Mary Grace (née Russell), of…

Gralton, James (1886–1945), communist, was born 17 April 1886 at Effernagh, Gowel, Co. Leitrim, one of three sons and four daughters of Michael Gralton, an old Fenian and prominent supporter of the cooperative movement, who farmed 25 acres, and Alice Gralton (née Campbell). His mother…

Gray, David (1870–1968), diplomat and playwright, was born 8 August 1870 in Buffalo, New York state, of Scottish parents; his father was editor of the Buffalo Courier. He graduated from Harvard University in 1892. Between 1893 and 1899 he worked as a reporter and leader…

Gregg, John Robert (1867–1948), shorthand inventor and promoter, was born in Shantonagh, Co. Monaghan, youngest child among four sons and a daughter of George Gregg, stationmaster at Rockcorry, and Margaret Gregg (née Johnston). The family moved to Rockcorry when John was five. A…

Grimshaw, William (1782–1852), author, was born 22 November 1782 in Greencastle, Co. Antrim, eighth child of Nicholas Grimshaw (qv), originally of Blackburn, England, but settled in Belfast, and Mary Grimshaw (née Wrigley).…

Halpin (Halpine), Charles Graham (1829–68), writer and journalist, was born 20 November 1829 at Oldcastle, Co. Meath, son of the Rev. Nicholas John Halpin (qv), clergyman and newspaper editor, and Anne Halpin (née Grehan). Educated…

Halpin, William G. (1824–92), Fenian, was born in May 1824 in Nobber, Co. Meath, son of John Halpin and his wife Sally. After studying civil engineering in Dublin, he left for the USA, arriving in New York on 28 October 1847. Shortly thereafter he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where…

Haughery, Margaret (1813–82), philanthropist, was born on 25 December 1813 in Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, fifth of six children to William Gaffney, tenant farmer, and his wife Margaret (née O’Rourke). In 1818 the Gaffneys moved with their three younger children to America, leaving the…

Heeney, Cornelius (1754–1848), businessman and philanthropist, was born in King's Co. (Offaly) to catholic parents. Virtually nothing is known of his early life except that a relative gave him a start in business in Dublin, so that when he followed his father to America in 1784 he…

Herbert, Victor (1859–1924), composer, was born 1 February 1859 in Dublin, son of Edward Herbert, artist, and Fanny Herbert (née Lover). Victor's father died when he was 3, and he was initially raised by his grandfather, the novelist and composer …

Higgins, Mick (Michael Joseph) (1922–2010), Gaelic footballer, was born on 19 August 1922 in the Bronx, New York city, USA, the eldest of five sons and one daughter of John Higgins, a bus driver, originally of Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, and his wife Mary (née Farrelly), originally of…

Hitchcock, Reginald Ingram Montgomery (‘Rex Ingram’) (1893–1950), film director,was born 18 January 1893 at 58 Grosvenor Square, Rathmines, Dublin, the elder of two sons of Francis Ryan Montgomery Hitchcock, clergyman and Donnellan lecturer at Trinity College Dublin (1912), and his wife…

Hoban, James (c.1762–1831), architect, was born in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, son of Edward Hoban and Martha Hoban (née Bayne). From 1779 he was educated at the Dublin Society’s School of Drawing in Architecture where he studied under…

Holland, Denis (1826–72), nationalist and journalist, was born in Cork city; details of his parents are not known. He had at least one brother, John Callanan Holland, a journalist; the family were related to J. J. Callanan (qv). As a…

Holland, John Philip (1841–1914), inventor of the submarine, was born 24 February 1841 at Castle Street, Liscannor, Co. Clare, son of John Holland, a coast guard officer, and his second wife, Mary (née Scanlon). He was educated at St Macreehy's national school, Liscannor, and by the…

Holmes (Homes), William (1663–1746), presbyterian minister, was born in Donaghmore, Co. Donegal, of a family well established in Donegal and Co. Tyrone and probably originating in the Salisbury area of Wiltshire. His father was probably Robert Holmes, who was an elder in Donaghmore…

Hooker, Helen O'Malley Roelefs (1905–93), sculptor, was born 1 January 1905 in Connecticut, USA, third among four daughters of Elon Huntingdon Hooker (1869–1938), chemical engineer and businessman, and his wife Blanche (1871–1956), daughter of Dexter Mason Ferry, a wealthy Detroit…

Hovenden, Thomas (1840–95), painter, was born 28 December 1840 in Dunmanway, Co. Cork, second child and younger son among two sons and one daughter of Robert Hovenden, a protestant of English ancestry who was keeper of the Dunmanway bridewell, and Ellen Hovenden (née Bryan). After…

Hudson, Edward (1772–1833), United Irishman and pioneer dentist, was born in October 1772 in Co. Wexford, son of Capt. Henry Edward Hudson and Jane Hudson (née de Tracy). Orphaned at a young age, he was adopted by his cousin, Dr Edward Hudson (c.1742–1821), a distinguished…

Hughes, Angela (1806–66), Sister of Charity, was born Ellen Hughes in Annaloghan, Co. Tyrone, one of seven children (four sons and three daughters) of Patrick Hughes and Margaret Hughes (née McKenna). In 1819, when aged 13, she emigrated with her family to Chambersburg,…

Humbert, Jean-Joseph Amable (1767–1823), French general, was born 22 August 1767 in the parish of Saint-Nabord, outside Remiremont in Lorraine, France (later in the Vosges department). He was the eldest of the six children of Jean-Joseph Humbert, a farmer and trader, and his wife,…

Huston, John (1906–87), film director, was born 5 August 1906 in Nevada, Missouri, USA, only child of Walter Huston (1884–1950), an actor whose mother was possibly from Ireland, and his wife Rhea Huston (née Gore), a journalist. Diagnosed with heart and kidney disease as a child, he…

Ingham, Charles Cromwell (1796/7–1863), painter, was born in Dublin. Nothing is known of his family or early education. Having attended drawing classes at the Dublin Society schools since 1809, he became in 1812 a pupil of William Cuming…

Ireland, John (1838–1918), archbishop of St Paul, Minnesota, was born 11 September 1838 in Burnchurch, Co. Kilkenny, eldest son among two sons and four daughters of Richard Ireland, artisan, and Judith Ireland (née Naughton). In 1850 he emigrated to America with his family,…

Irvine, Alexander Fitzgerald (1863–1941), minister, social activist, orator, and author, was born 19 January 1863 in Scott's Entry, Antrim town, ninth among twelve children (five of whom died young) of Jamie Irvine, an illiterate protestant shoemaker, and Anna Irvine (née Gilmore), an…