ST JOHN, OLIVER 1559-1630

Oliver St John, Viscount Grandison and Baron Tregoz, came to Ireland in 1601. Having taken part in the Battle of Kinsale, he then became a mamber of the Ulster Plantation Commision, gaining land for himself in County Armagh. In 1616 he was appointed Lord Deputy and banished all friars and monks who had been educated abroad. After Ulster, he went on to plant County Leitrim and County Longford. He was recalled to England in 1622.

SAMPSON, GEORGE VAUGHAN 1763-1827

George Sampson was born in County Antrim, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was headmaster of Foyle College, Derry for four years before becoming Rector of Aghaboe. He published Statistical Survey of Derry and Memoir of Chart and Survey of Derry.

SAMPSON, WILLIAM 1764-1836

William Sampson was born in County Londonderry, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Lincoln's Inn, London. He was a United Irishman and held a commission in the Volunteers. He wrote for the The Press and The Northern Star, was arrested and deported to France and from there he went to America, where he rose to prominence as a lawyer. He published his Memoirs in New York and Discourse showing the Origin, Progress, Antiquities, Curiosities and Natures of the Common Law, which was recognised as an important contribution to local studies.

SANDS, ROBERT 1954-1981

Bobby Sands was born in Belfast and was apprenticed to a coachbuilder. He joined the Irish Republican Army in 1972 and in 1973 was charged with having in his possession four guns. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. In 1977, after his release, he was again arrested when a furniture factory was bombed in Belfast. He was sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment in the H-Block of the Maze Prison, Long Kesh. He began a hunger strike on the 1st of March, 1981 as part of a campaign to demand, among other things, political status. In April 1981 he was elected Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and Tyrone. He died on 5th May 1981, the sixty-sixth day of his hunger-strike. His prison diary and poems were published by Sinn Fein in 1981, and in 1982 an anthology of his writings, Skylark, Sing Your Lonely Song, was published.

SAUNDERSON, EDWARD JAMES 1837-1906

Edward Saunderson was born in Castle Saunderson, Belturbet, County Cavan, though he spent his boyhood in Nice. In 1858 he returned to Ireland, becoming Sheriff of Armagh in 1859, and was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Cavan, serving for nine years from 1865. He joined the Orange Order, which was organizing opposition to Home Rule, and within a short period was selected as Deputy Grand Master for Ireland. As colonel he led a militia battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and from 1885 to 1906 was Unionist Member of Parliament for North Armagh. In 1900 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Cavan, and he led the Unionist Parliamentary Party in Westminster against Home Rule. [Biography by Reginald Lucas, 1908]

SAURIN, WILLIAM 1757-1839

William Saurin was born in Belfast and was educated at Dubourdieu's school in Lisburn, County Antrim, Trinity College, Dublin, and Lincoln's Inn, London. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1780, was Member of Parliament for Blessington, and opposed the Union. In 1807 he was appointed Attorney General for Ireland, remaining in that post for fifteen years, during which he became noted for his bitter opposition to Catholic Emancipation. When he was replaced in 1822, he refused both a peerage and judgeship and returned to practice at the Bar.

SAVAGE, ROLAND 15th century

Roland Savage was born in Ardkeen and was Seneschal of Ulster in 1482. He was knighted and was Lord of Lecale, County Down. He was known for his allegiance to the English, but by 1515 he reversed his position and fought on the side of the Irish and as a consequence had his lands confiscated by Gerald Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare.

SAVAGE-ARMSTRONG, GEORGE FRANCIS see ARMSTRONG

SAVORY, DOUGLAS LLOYD 1878-1969

Douglas Savory was born in Suffolk and from 1909 to 1941 was Professor of French and Roman Philology at Queen's University, Belfast, and then became Professor Emeritus. He sat as Unionist member of the Westminster parliament, representing Queen's University from 1940 to 1950, and then until 1955 representing South Antrim. He was knighted.

SCHOMBERG, FRIEDRICH HERMAN 1615-1690

Friedrich Schomberg was born in Heidelberg of a German father and an English mother. By 1687 he was second-in-command of William III's army and was appointed commander of the Williamite forces in Ireland in 1688. He landed at Bangor, County Down, and occupied Belfast, Carrickfergus, Dundalk and Charlemont. When William III came to Ireland in 1690, he and Schomberg marched southwards. He was killed during the Battle of the Boyne and buried in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

SCOTT, CHARLES STEWART b.1838

Charles Scott was born at Willsborough, near Derry. He was educated at Cheltenham College and Trinity College, Dublin, and entered the Diplomatic Service. In 1859 he was appointed Attache to the Embassy in Paris and in 1862 was appointed to Copenhagen as third Secretary, and this appointment coincided with the war between Denmark, Austria and Prussia. In 1866 he was appointed second Secretary to Her Majesty's Legation in Mexico which was witnessing the final stages of the civil war, the seige of Mexico City and the downfall of Emperor Maximilian. He also served in Lisbon, Stuttgart, Munich and Vienna and in 1874 was appointed second Secretary and Head of the Chancery in St. Petersburg and witnessed the outbreak of the Russian-Turkish war. He later served in Darmstadt and Coburg and in 1883 was transferred to Berlin as Her Majesty's Secretary of the Embassy. He served as Envoy to Switzerland and Copenhagen and in 1898 was promoted to the post of Ambassador to Russia. He was knighted in 1896 and in 1898 became a Privy Councillor. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath as well as that of Saint Michael and Saint George. He received an honorary degree from Trinity College, Dublin. He died in Scotland.

SCOTT, ELISHA (LEE or LI) c. 1894-1959

Elisha Scott was born in Belfast and was an international goalkeeper. He played for Broadway United, Liverpool, and Belfast Celtic, where he was manager from 1946 to 1949. During that period the team won thirty-one major trophies, including eight gold cups and five County Antrim Shields. He won thirty-one caps for Northern Ireland between 1920 and 1936.

SCOTT, JAMES HENDERSON 1913-1970

James Scott was born in Dundalk and was educated in Dundalk and at the Methodist College, Belfast. From 1964 until 1970 he was Professor of Dental Anatomy at Queen's University, Belfast. Among his publications are Introduction to Dental Anatomy; Essentials of Oral Anatomy and The Christian Vision (with N. B. B. Symonds).

SCOTT, WILLIAM (alias TANTRA BARBUS) 1778-1837

William Scott was born near Ballynahinch, County Down. He was a chapman, an itinerant pedlar who sold such items as cloth, combs and books. He became well known throughout the countryside for his eccentric behaviour: he stole pewter from his customers and the brass knockers from their doors to finance his drinking habits. He died in a fit of inebriation at the age of fifty-nine. His Life was published in 1833.

SCOTT, WILLIAM b.1913

William Scott was born in Greenock, Scotland, though his family moved to Enniskillen, County Fermanagh when he was eleven. He was educated at the Model School and attended night classes in art at the Technical School, under Kathleen Bridle. He studied art at the Belfast College of Art in Belfast in 1928. He won a scholarship to the Royal Academy Schools, London, won a silver medal and became a Landseer scholar in painting. He was awarded a Leverhulme scholarship in 1935. During the early years of the Second World War he helped to run an art school in France and from there went to live in Dublin and then London. From 1942-1946 he served with the Royal Engineers, and learned lithography in the map-making section. From 1946-1956 he taught art at Bath Academy of Art went to Canada and America as a guest instructor. He exhibited in London, America, Italy, Switzerland, West Germany, France, Canada and Australia, as well as Belfast and Dublin. In 1961, he executed a mural for the Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry. He is represented in many collections at home and abroad and was awarded many honours.

SCRIVEN, JOSEPH 1819-1886

Joseph Scriven was born near Banbridge and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1847 he emigrated to Canada where he settled at Port Hope, Ontario, and became a teacher and a preacher with the Plymouth Brethern. He wrote the hymn 'What a Friend We Have In Jesus'

SEMPLE, PATRICK 1875-1954

Patrick Semple was born in Derry and was educated at the Royal University of Ireland, where he became a fellow. He was appointed Professor of Classics at University College, Dublin, and then Professor of Latin in 1909. He was a Senator of the National University of Ireland.

SEXTON, THOMAS 1848-1932

Thomas Sexton was born in Waterford and was educated locally. When he was thirteen he went to work for the railway service, and six years later he joined the staff of The Nation. In 1880 he was elected Member of Parliament for Sligo and Gladstone is said to have remarked that his speech on the Land Bill in 1881, was the finest he had ever heard in the house. From 1886 to 1892 he was Member of Parliament for West Belfast, and from 1892 to 1896, for North Kerry. He was High Sheriff of Dublin in 1887 and Lord Mayor from 1888 to 1889. He served as chairman of the Freeman's Journal from 1892 to 1912. [Biography by T. Sherlock]

SHANE, ELIZABETH see HIND GERTRUDE ELIZABETH HERON

SHARMAN CRAWFORD, WILLIAM, see CRAWFORD, WILLIAM SHARMAN

SHAW or SHAW-GRAETZ, ELIZABETH 1920-1992

Elizabeth Shaw was born in Belfast and studied art at Chelsea Art School, with Henry Moore and Graham Sutherland among her teachers. She established herself as an illustrator and cartoonist during the Second World War and was regarded on a par with Ronald Searle, publishing in Our Time and Lilliput. She moved to Germany in 1946 and married Rene Graetz from Switzerland. They were committed to the establishment of a new Communist society in Berlin and both learned the German language. They attended the founding meetings of UNESCO in Paris. Elizabeth Shaw made her reputation with her charicatures of the East Berlin intellectual world. She produced, with Bertha Waterstradt, Das Magazin, which published the contributions of women artists and writers for twenty years. She wrote and illustrated children's books that sold in East Germany. She illustrated Brecht's poems for children and these brought her international acclaim. During the McCarthy era, Rene and Elizabeth Graetz had a wide coterie of dissident friends from both America and Britain. She began to publish books on places she had visited and loved, particularly Ireland, and there were Arts Council Exhibitions of her work in Coventry and Belfast. In 1981 she was awarded the Kathe Kollwitz Prize. She published her autobiography, Irish Berlin, in German in 1990.

SHAW, EYRE MASSEY 1830-1908

Eyre Massey Shaw was born in Ballymore, County Cork, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1859 he was Chief Constable in Belfast, and he reorganised the city's fire brigade. He was appointed head of the London fire brigade in 1861 and was severely injured while directing operations. He was knighted in 1891, and in 1892 was given the freedom of the city of London. He wrote many works on fire protection and served on the boards of companies.

SHAW, JAMES JOHNSTON 1845-1910

James Shaw was born in County Down and educated at Queen's College, Belfast. From 1869 to 1878 he was Professor of Metaphysics at Magee College, Derry, and in 1878 was called to the Bar. He served as Whately Professor in Trinity College, Dublin, from 1876 to 1891 and in 1891, became Commissioner of Education and a county court judge in County Kerry, transferring to County Antrim in 1909. He framed the statutes of Queen's University, Belfast, and became Pro-Chancellor. In 1909 he was Recorder of Belfast.

SHAW, ROSE early 20th century

Rose Shaw lived in the Clogher Valley, County Tyrone. She was a governess to the Gledstanes who lived at Fardross, near Clogher. She was an amateur photographer. Only about thirty of her photographs have survived and these are in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, County Down. She published Carleton's Country 1930, which had an introduction by Sir Shane Leslie and included many of her own photographs.

SHAW, WILLIAM 1823-1895

William Shaw was born in The Moy, County Tyrone. He was a Congregational minister of a church in Cork for four years, but resigned in 1840. He went into business and became a director of the Munster Bank. In 1868 he was elected to parliament. He was an advocate of Home Rule and by 1873 was Chairman of the Home Rule Convention in Dublin. He was elected Home Rule Member of Parliament for County Cork and succeeded Butt as leader of the party in 1879. In the general election of 1880 he was re-elected for Cork but was replaced as party leader by Parnell. He withdrew from the Home Rule Party because of his differences of opinion with the Land League. He retired from politics in 1885, and with the insolvency of the Munster bank of which he was now Chairman, he became bankrupt.

SHEA, PATRICK 1908-1986

Patrick Shea was born in County Westmeath and since his father was a policeman, he spent his childhood in Athlone, Clones, County Monaghan, Rathfriland and Newry, County Down. He was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers, The Abbey, Newry places, being the son of a policeman. He joined the Northern Ireland civil service and attained the rank of permanent secretary in the Department of Education. He wrote Voices and the Sound of Drums.

SHEPPARD, OLIVER 1865-1941

Oliver Sheppard was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone. After his birth the family moved to Dublin, and he studied at the Metropolitan School of Art. He won a scholarship to the South Kensington Art School, where he studied from 1889 to 1891 before spending a year in Paris. He taught in Leicester and Nottingham. When he returned to Dublin in 1902 he was appointed instructor in modelling at the Metropolitan School of Art. He was Professor of Sculpture to the Royal Hibernian Academy and exhibited there and at the Royal Academy. He represented Ireland in exhibitions in Europe, and in 1905 founded the Royal Society of British Sculptors. His work 'The Death of Cuchulain' was chosen as a memorial to the 1916 Rising and is in the General Post Office in Dublin.

SHEIL, CHARLES LEO 1897-1968

Charles Sheil was born in Portadown, County Armagh, and educated at Clongowes Wood College, and Queen's University, Belfast. In 1921 he was called to the Bar and was Crown Counsel for County Antrim from 1926 to 1943. He served as county court judge and Senior Crown Counsel and was then appointed a judge of the Northern Ireland High Court.

SHEIL, EDWARD 1834-1869

Edward Sheil was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, and was educated at the Cork School of Art. In 1857 he became second master and from 1859 to 1860 he was headmaster. In 1861 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy where he had exhibited for the previous five years and he became an Academician in 1864. Among his pictures are 'Excelsior'; 'The Angel of Intercession'; 'Spring'; 'Jacob's Dream' and 'Gethsemane', a work exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1866.

SHERIDAN, PHILIP HENRY 1831-1888

Philip Sheridan was born in Killinkere, County Cavan, and as a young boy was taken to America. From 1848 to 1853 he was educated at Westpoint. He served in the American Civil War and rose to the rank of major general in the Union army by 1862. He is remembered for his success at the Potomac, the Shenandoah and for his campaign against the Confederates which ended the war in north Virginia. In 1865 he won the Battle at Five Forks. In 1883 he was promoted to commander-in-chief, and among his publications are his memoirs.

SHERIDAN, THOMAS 1687-1738

Thomas Sheridan was born in County Cavan and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1726 he attained a Doctorate of Divinity. He taught in the school that he had opened in Capel Street, Dublin. He was a friend of Swift and in 1738 sold his school and went to live in the Deanery of St Patrick's with him. He wrote prolifically, yet published little, except for his translations from the classics.

SHERIDAN, THOMAS 1719-1788

Thomas Sheridan was born in Quilca, County Cavan, and was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Dublin. He was an actor and appeared in Covent Garden, Drury Lane and Smock Alley, where he became manager. He went to England, where he enjoyed great success as a teacher of elocution. He befriended Samuel Johnston, but lost his friendship when he proposed to publish a dictionary of pronunciation. Among his publications are A General Dictionary of the English Language, and he edited The Works of Swift in eighteen volumes. Swift was his godfather, and he himself was the father of Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

SHERIDAN, WILLIAM 1636-1711

William Sheridan was born in Togher, County Cavan, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he became Doctor of Divinity in 1682. He was chaplain to the Duke of Ormonde, and in 1667 became Rector of Athenry. Two years later he was appointed Dean of Down, and in 1682 became Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh. When William III came to the throne, Sheridan left Kilmore and went to London to avoid taking the oath of allegiance, as a result of which he was deprived of his bishopric in 1691. His letters are preserved in the Sloane Manuscripts in the British Library. He died in London.

SHIELDS, JAMES 1806-1879

James Shields was born in Altmore, Dungannon, County Tyrone. In 1826 he went to America, settled in Illinois and studied law, becoming a judge of the Supreme Court in 1843. He once challenged Abraham Lincoln to a duel that was compromised. In 1846 he was appointed brigadier-general in the Mexican War, where he was severely wounded, and in 1849 was elected Senator for Illinois. From 1858-1859 he was Senator for Minnesota. He served in the American Civil War as Brigadier-General from 1861 to 1863 and fought against Stonewall Jackson. He settled in Missouri and in 1879 was again elected to the Senate. He died in Iowa.

SHIELS, GEORGE (pseud. MORSHIEL, GEORGE) c.1881-1949

George Shiels was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim, and was educated locally. He emigrated to the USA and Canada and after an accident sustained while working on the Canadian Pacific Railway was left disabled for life. He returned to Ireland, where he began to write plays; the first of these Bedmates and Insurance Money was performed at the Abbey in 1921. His other plays, some of which were performed at the Abbey theatre, Dublin, include Paul Twyning; Passing Day; Professor Tim; The Fort Field; The Summit and The Rugged Path.

SIGERSON, GEORGE (pseud. ERIONNACH) 1836-1925

George Sigerson was born in Holy Hill, Strabane, County Tyrone, and was educated in Letterkenny, France, Galway, Cork and Dublin, graduating as a Doctor of Medicine in 1859. Ten of his poems were published in the Harp of Erin in 1869. He taught himself Irish, for which he won a prize. He specialised in neurology and was appointed Professor of Botany and Biology in the Catholic University and later in the National University of Ireland. He published, often under the pseudonym Erionnach, articles in newspapers such as the Freeman's Journal, the North British Review and The Irishman. His first book, The Poets and Poetry of Munster, was followed by his History of the Land Tenures and Land Classes of Ireland; The Last Independent Parliament of Ireland and medical works, which included Diseases of the Nervous System. He published poems and translations from the Irish, such as the popular Bards of the Gael and Gall. His last book, The Easter Song of Sedulius was published when he was eighty-six. He was a Senator of the Irish Free State and President of the National Literary Society and was a founder member of Feis Ceoil.

SIMMS, JOHN GERALD 1904-1979

Gerald Simms was born in Lifford, County Donegal, and was educated at Winchester and Oxford. Before entering Trinity College, Dublin, in 1950 as a lecturer in Modern History, he had been a civil servant in the Indian administration. In 1966 he was elected a Fellow of Trinity, and in 1974 became Keeper of Marsh's Library, Dublin. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy. Among his publications are The Williamite Confiscation in Ireland, 1690-1703; Jacobite Ireland, 1685-91 and William Molyneux of Dublin.

SIMMS, JOHN MORROW 1854-1934

John Simms was born in Newtownards, County Down, and was educated at Queen's College, Belfast, and in Edinburgh, where he studied theology, afterwards becoming a Presbyterian minister. In 1887 he was appointed an army chaplain and served in the Sudan and in South Africa. In the First World War he was principal chaplain to the British forces in France, with the rank of major-general. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1919 he became Moderator of the General Assembly, and in 1922 member of the Westminster parliament for North Down, retaining his parliamentary seat until 1931. He was the King's Honorary Chaplain. He died in Newtownards. In his obituary The Times said of him: 'He was no mere arm-chair minister, but shared the risks and hardships of military life'.

SIMPSON, ALAN 1920-1980

Alan Simpson was born in Dublin and was educated at Campbell College, Belfast, and Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in engineering in 1946. During the Second World War he served with the Irish army. He was commissioned as captain with the Corps of Engineers in 1950. He was interested in the theatre, and he and his wife, Carolyn Swift, founded the Pike Theatre in Dublin, where the first Irish productions of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Brendan Behan's The Quare Fellow were staged. His book Beckett and Behan and a Theatre in Dublin recalls those years. He went to London and Edinburgh to work in theatre, and from 1968 to 1969 was artistic adviser to the Abbey Theatre. While in Dublin he directed musicals. He lectured in the State University of New York in 1978 and directed productions in America. He died in Dublin.

SIMPSON, JONATHAN 1817-1900

Jonathan Simpson was born at Inchadoghill, Aghadowey, County Antrim and educated at Belfast College and the University of Edinburgh. He became a Minister in Portrush, County Antrim in 1842 and resigned in 1890. He was a keen exponent of Temperance and Social Reform. He swam all year round and saved many lives from drowning. He travelled in Europe, Palestine and the United States of America and published The Annals of My Life.

SIMPSON, MAXWELL 1815-1902

Maxwell Simpson was born in County Armagh and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and later studied chemistry in London and Germany. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and was Professor of Chemistry in Queen's College, Cork, from 1872 to 1891. His research placed him as one of the most prominent chemists of his time.

SIMS, JAMES 1741-1820

James Sims was born in County Down and graduated from Leyden, afterwards settling in London. For twenty-two years he was President of the Medical Society and wrote many medical works which were translated into French, German and Italian. In 1802 he presented his library to the Medical Society. He died in Bath.

SINCLAIR, ELIZABETH 20th century

Betty Sinclair was a trade unionist and political campaigner. She was on of the organisers of the 1932 outdoor relief workers' strike. She was a former chairperson of the Civil Rights Association, and until her retirement in 1975, full-time secretary of the Belfast Trades Council. She was a founder member of the CPI.

SINCLAIR, EVERINA 1870-1966

Everina Sinclair was born in Holyhill, County Tyrone and when she went to live in Bonnyglen, Inver, County Donegal, she taught three classes of wood carvers, all of which exhibited at the Royal Dublin Society. She was herself a skilled carver and in 1890 won a prize at the Royal Dublin Society for a folding chair. She exhibited a carved head at the Royal Dublin Society in the same year. As well as Celtic designs she used Moorish designs from Spain.

SKEFFINGTON, CLOTWORTHY 1742-1805

Clotworthy Skeffington, 2nd Earl of Massereene, was probably born in County Antrim and was educated at Cambridge University. As a youth he fell from his horse and this seems to have had a permanent effect on his posture, since he insisted on crossing his arms across his chest and holding both shoulders. He was considered a dandy and when his business ventures failed and Antrim Castle would no longer pay his debts, he went to a debtor's prison in France for eighteen years. He married (against the wishes of his family) Marie-Ann Barcier, who tried for twelve years to win his release, and when she eventually succeeded in doing so he deserted her. He returned to Ireland, and a neighbour is reputed to have said she 'had previously heard a report that he was a lunatic, but she then thought that if he was a lunatic he was the pleasantest one she had ever met'. It is said that when his second wife's dog died, he decreed that fifty local dogs in white scarves should attend the funeral.

SKEFFINGTON, FRANCIS SHEEHY 1878-1916

Francis Skeffington was born in Bailieborough, County Cavan, and was educated at home and at University College, Dublin where, in 1902, he became Registrar and began a campaign for the admission of women to the college. When asked to drop the campaign or resign, he resigned and became a journalist and social reformer. In 1908 he helped to form the Independent Labour Party and with Hanna Sheehy, the leading Irish suffragist to whom he was married, helped found the Irish Women's Franchise League. He co-edited The Nationalist and later became editor of the Irish Citizen, writing prolifically for various newspapers. He joined the Young Ireland branch of the United Ireland League and was a member of the 'Peace Committee' in the 1913 lock-out. He was a pacifist, a vegetarian and an anti-vivisectionist. In 1913 he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Irish Citizen Army. When the First World War broke out, he campaigned against recruitment and was arrested. When, after six days on hunger-strike, he was released, he went to campaign in America. Although he advocated non-violent action, he was arrested during the insurrection in Dublin at Easter 1916, and having witnessed the shooting of an unarmed boy, was himself arbitrarily executed. His executioner was declared of unsound mind. Among his publications are A Life of Michael Davitt and In Dark and Evil Days, which was published posthumously.

SKEFFINGTON, JOHN FOSTER 1812-1863

John Skeffington was born in Dublin and was educated at Eton and Oxford University. He wrote a Metrical Version of the Psalms, Church Melodies and, along with other volumes of poetry, O'Sullivan. He was the 10th Viscount Massareene, and he died in Antrim Castle.

SKEFFINGTON, WILLIAM d.1535

William Skeffington came to Ireland in 1530 as Lord Deputy, but he was recalled in 1532 because of accusations of abuse of power. He returned again as Deputy in 1534 and was knighted. He besieged the castle at Maynooth a year later, and after nine days the garrison surrendered and its surviving defenders were executed. This led to the submission of the rebellious lords Conn O'Neill and Silken Thomas Fitzgerald.

SKELTON, PHILIP 1707-1787

Philip Skelton was born in Derriaghy, near Lisburn, County Antrim, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was curate at Drummully, near Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, to Dr Samuel Madden and was tutor to his children. He had parishes in Pettigo, Devenish, Enniskillen, and Fintona, County Tyrone, and his advice to his congregation was: 'If you have not food, beg it; if you can't get for begging, steal; if you can't get for stealing, rob and don't starve'. It is said that on two occasions he sold his library to feed his parishioners. He sometimes locked the doors so that they could not escape his hell-fire sermons, and he frequently called upon them to witness his death. He was a man of 'gigantic size', a keen boxer and brandisher of the cudgel, a 'bullet'- thrower in his youth, and he loved flowers. He published a Description of Lough Derg; Deism Revealed and Proposals for the Revival of Christianity. He died of pneumonia in Dublin, leaving instructions that his throat should be cut before he was placed in his coffin. [Life by Samuel Burdy, 1792]

SKRINE, AGNES NESTA SHAKESPEARE (nee HIGGINSON; pseud. O'NEILL, MOIRA) 1865-1955

Moira O'Neill was born in Cushendun in the Glens of Antrim. Her Songs of the Glens of Antrim and More Songs of the Glens of Antrim were very popular and ran to many editions. She also published An Easter Vacation and The Elf Errant, and her collected poems were published in 1933. After a period living in Canada, she returned to Ireland to live in County Wicklow, where she died. She was the mother of Molly Keane the novelist.

SLEATOR, JAMES 1889-1950

James Sleator was born in County Armagh and was educated at the Belfast School of Art. He won a scholarship in 1910 that enabled him to attend the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin. He studied for a time in Paris and at the Slade School of Art in London, but returned to Dublin and the Metropolitan to take up a teaching post in 1915, exhibiting at the Royal Hibernian Academy, to which he was elected in 1917. He spent five years in Florence from 1922 and returned to London, where he opened a studio, taught Sir Winston Churchill, and received commissions for portraits. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. In 1945 he became President of the Royal Hibernian Academy.

SLOANE, HANS 1660-1753

Hans Sloane was born in Killyleagh, County Down and studied medicine at London, Paris and Montpelier and graduated from the Huguenot University of Orange near Avignon in 1683. From 1687 to 1689 he was physician to the Governor of Jamaica, and surgeon to the West Indies fleet. In 1696 he published a catalogue in Latin of eight hundred new specimens of plants he had collected. He practiced medicine in London, where he set aside his early mornings to treat the poor without payment. It is said that he attended Samuel Pepys, and in 1712 he was appointed physician to Queen Anne and set up his Physic Gardens in Chelsea. He was made a baronet in 1716, and three years later became President of the Royal College of Physicians. He was appointed physician to King George II. He was a friend of Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton, whom he succeeded as President of the Royal Society in 1727. He published A Voyage to the Islands of Madeira, The Natural History of Jamaica (2 vols., 1707 and 1725) and the fourth London Pharmacopoeia, a catalogue of medicinal herbs. He was honoured by many foreign academies of science. As a physician he introduced drinking-chocolate, which he considered a health-giving beverage. His library was said to contain 50,000 books, 3,500 manuscripts, 32,000 medals and coins, 3,000 cameos, seals and precious stones, and over 25,000 natural history specimens. This collection, which he bequeathed to the nation, and which was purchased by a special act of parliament, became the nucleus of the British Museum, which was opened to the public in 1759. Sloane Square in London is named after him.

SMITH, ALFRED JOHN 1865-1925

Alfred Smith was born at Kevit Castle in Crossdoney, County Cavan, and was educated at St Patrick's College, Cavan. He studied medicine in Dublin, Leipzig and Vienna, became Professor of Midwifery and Gynaecology at the National University of Ireland and Consultant Gynaecologist at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin.

SMITH, CHARLES 1715-1762

Charles Smith was born in Waterford and became an apothecary. He published a history of County Down in conjunction with Walter Harris in 1744. He was one of the founders of the Physico-Historical Society in Dublin that published histories of Waterford, Cork and Kerry. He was a pioneer of topography.

SMITH, SYDNEY 1912-1982

Sydney Smith was born in Belfast and educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He attended evening classes at the Belfast College of Art, and also had private tuition in drawing. He painted landscapes and portraits and made a drawing of the poet W. R. Rodgers. He painted Belfast scenes during the Second World War, and made portraits of American army officers. In 1948 he went to London, and concentrated on painting murals. He also painted murals in ships. He exhibited frequently in Belfast and in Dublin.

SMITH, THOMAS d.1573

Thomas Smith was the son of Queen Elizabeth's secretary and was given land on the Ards peninsula. Sir Brian O'Neill, chief of the O'Neills, declared that he would not relinquish any of his land, and the force which Smith was leading in 1573 was attacked and defeated and Smith was killed.

SMITH, WILLIAM CUSACK see CUSACK

SMYTH, RICHARD 1826-1878

Richard Smyth was born in Dervock, County Antrim, and was educated at Bonn and Glasgow, where he gained Doctorates of Divinity and of Laws in 1867. He was a Presbyterian minister in Derry from 1857 to 1865, and from 1865 to 1868 was Professor of Oriental Languages and Theology at Magee College, Derry. From 1874 to 1878 he served as Member of Parliament for County Londonderry.

SMYTH, THOMAS 1884-1928

Tom Smyth was born in County Antrim, was educated at Ballymena Academy and eventually gained a doctorate. He was a rugby international and played for Malone and Newport, Wales. Between 1908 and 1912 he was capped for Ireland fourteen times, and was captain of the team only once in 1910. He was appointed Captain of the British and Irish Touring Side who went to South Africa. Both his brothers, William and Patrick, played for Ireland, and were capped several times.

SMYTHE, WILLIAM JAMES 1816-1887

William James Smythe was born in Carnmoney, County Antrim, and was educated at Woolwich. He joined the Royal Artillery in 1833 and served in Africa, St Helena, Nova Scotia and the Fiji Islands. He went to India in 1865 and was promoted to the rank of major general in 1868. When he returned home he built a church with a round tower at Jordanstown, County Antrim, and took an active interest in local antiquities. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and bequeathed money to the Royal Irish Academy to encourage the study of Irish. He died at Carnmoney.

SOUTHWELL, EDWARD 1671-1730

Edward Southwell succeeded his father, Sir Robert Southwell, as Secretary of State, in 1702, occupying the position until his death. He also served two terms of office as Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant (1703-7 and 1710-13). He was a Member of Parliament for Kinsale, County Cork, and acquired, by marriage to Elizabeth Cromwell, daughter of the Earl of Ardglass, Downpatrick, the Manor of Down. He was founder of the Southwell Charities in Downpatrick.

SPENCER, BRENT 1760-1828

Brent Spencer was born in Trumery, County Antrim, and in 1778 joined the 15th Regiment of Foot. For twenty years he served in the West Indies and later at Aboukir and Alexandria. He became a major general in 1805 and commanded a division in the Peninsular War. Wellington is supposed to have said of him: 'There never was a braver man'. In 1809 he was knighted and became Mayor of York.

STACPOOLE-KENNY, LOUISE d.1933

Louise Stacpoole-Kenny was born in Dublin and was educated at the Loreto Convent, Omagh, and in Paris. She was a prolific writer, and the subjects of her biographies included St Martin of Tours, St Francis of Sales and Pius X. She also wrote more than twelve novels.

STANFORD, WILLIAM BEDELL 1910-1984

William Stanford was born in Belfast and educated at the Bishop Foy School, Waterford, and Trinity College, Dublin where he studied classics. In 1934 he was elected a fellow and was appointed Regius Professor of Greek in 1940. From 1948 to 1969 he was a Senator representing Dublin University in Seanad Eireann. He undertook an extensive lecture tour of America and was visiting Professor at Berkeley, at Wayne Park University, and at McGill University, Toronto. From 1972 to 1980 he was the Chairman of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, and he was Pro-Chancellor of Dublin University from 1974 to 1982 and Chancellor from 1982 to 1984. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy and of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. He is recognised for his edition of Homer's Odyssey and his many papers on Greek literature. Among his other works are Greek Metaphor; Aeschylus in his Style; The Sound of Greek; Ireland and the Classical Tradition; Enemies of Poetry; Greek Tragedy and Emotions and an edition of Sophocles' Ajax. He was co-author of a biography of Provost Mahaffy of Trinity College.

STANNUS, ANTHONY CAREY 1830-1919

Anthony Stannus was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, and was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, before studying art at the Belfast School of design from 1850 to 1854. He moved to London to study in the Training School for Masters, and Dowlais School in Wales. He went to Mexico in South America from 1864 to 1868, and was employed as an artist in the army of Maximilian in Mexico, and later as a correspondent for the Illustrated London News. He returned to London, and then moved to Belfast in 1882. He exhibited in both Belfast and London. He was a member of the Belfast Ramblers' Sketching Club, and was its President for five years. he was elected an honorary member of the Belfast Art Society in 1891. He died in London. His work is represented in the Ulster Museum, the Belfast Harbour Office and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

STANNUS, EPHRAIM GERRISH 1784-1850

Ephraim Stannus was born in Camus, County Tyrone. He joined the Bombay army in 1800 and distinguished himself in the Pindari war. From 1823 to 1826 he resided in the Persian Gulf. From 1834 he was the Governor of Addiscombe College. He was knighted in 1837 and became a general in 1838. He died in Addiscombe.

STAPLES, ROBERT PONSONBY 1853-1943

Robert Ponsonby Staples was born at Lissan House, Cookstown, County Tyrone and was educated at home by his father and at the Academy of Fine Arts, Louvain, studying in Dresden, Paris and Brussels. In 1875 he held his first exhibition with the Royal Academy, London and four years later he visited Australia. He taught art in London from 1897. He was a member of the Union International des Beaux-Arts and of the United Irish League. His paintings include `Cardinal Manning's Last Reception' that was presented to Cardinal Vaughan and two triptychs illustrating shipbuilding, for the City Hall, Belfast. He also drew political cartoons. He was a baronet.

STEARNE, JOHN 1660-1745

John Stearne was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he gained a Doctorate of Divinity. He was appointed Vicar of Trim and Dean of St Patrick's, in 1713 became Bishop of Dromore, and in 1717 Bishop of Clogher. He rebuilt the episcopal residences at Dromore and Clogher and the deanery house in Dublin. He bequeathed his manuscripts to Trinity College, Dublin, and erected the university printing house.

STEENSON, BRIAN 1947-1970

Brian Steenson was born in Crossgar, County Down. He was a motorcycle road racer. He competed in many motorcycle races in both Ireland and England. In the World Championship Grand Prix events from 1967 until 1970, he finished five times in the top five places. He was killed in a crash at the Senior T.T in the Isle of Man.

STEPHENSON, GEORGE VAUGHAN 1901-1970

George Stephenson was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and later became a Doctor of Medicine. He played rugby for Queen's University, Belfast, and London Hospitals. Between 1920 and 1930 he won forty-two rugby international caps with Ireland. Until very recently he had scored more international tries than any other Irishman. During his last three seasons in the side he captained the Irish team.

STEPHENSON, HENRY WILLIAM VAUGHAN 1900-1958

Harry Stephenson was born in Dromore, County Down. He was an international rugby player who played for United Services, and between 1922 and 1928, he won fourteen caps for Ireland. In the international championship season in 1925 he scored three tries.

STEPHENSON, SAMUEL MARTIN 1742-1833

Samuel Stephenson was born in County Antrim and was educated at Glasgow. In 1773 he was ordained a Presbyterian minister at Greyabbey, County Down. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1776 and settled in Belfast where he helped to found the Dispensary (1792) and the Fever Hospital (1797). He wrote a History of Greyabbey and a History of Templepatrick among other works. He was Vice-President of the Linen Hall Library from 1814 to 1817 and President from 1817 to 1828.

STEVENSON, PATRIC 1909-1983

Patric Stevenson was born in Wadhurst, Sussex. He was educated at Methodist College, Belfast, and from 1926 to 1928 studied at the Belfast School of Art, and later at the Slade School, London. He served in the Royal Air Force as a radar mechanic from 1940 to 1945, and was a lecturer in art and music in Tring, Hertfordshire, from 1946 to 1950. One of his pictures was bought by the Duke of Edinburgh. He returned to Ulster in 1950. He exhibited in Belfast, Dublin and England, and he pioneered open-air exhibitions during the summer at Rostrevor from 1951 to 1954, and at the Shambles, Hillsborough, from 1955 to 1968. He was President of the Royal Ulster Academy, and examples of his work are in the Ulster Museum, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, County Down, and the Waterford Municipal Art Gallery.

STEVENSON, ROBERT 1866-1960

Robert Stevenson was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon, County Tyrone. He was a linen manufacturer and became an international rugby player, who played for Dungannon and Lisburn. During the period between 1887 and 1893, he was capped for Ireland fourteen times. In 1912-13 he was President of the Irish Rugby Football Union. His brother also won two international caps for Ireland, in 1888 against the Maoris, and in 1889 against Scotland.

STEVENSON, SAMUEL MARTIN 1742-1833

Samuel Stevenson studied for the ministry in Glasgow, and was licensed by Templepatrick Presbytery in 1767. He served as master in the Curch of Ireland Diocesan School in Monaghan, where he lodged with an apothecary and developed an interest in medicine. From 1773 to 1776 he studies medicine in Dublin and Edinburgh, and was also minister for Greyabbey, County Down. He settled in Belfast, and resigned from the ministry in 1785. He set up a medical practice and specialised in the treatment of fever. He was physician to the Belfast Dispensary from 1796 to 1799, attending physician to the hospital from 1800 to 1810, and consulting physician from 1830 to 1833. He was President of the Belfast Library Society from 1803 to 1804 and was involved with the Belfast Academical Institution.

STEVENSON, WILLIAM 1719-1783

William Stevenson was probably born in County Tyrone, studied medicine at Edinburgh and practised in Coleraine, County Londonderry. He later moved to Bath and Wells and wrote many medical works. He is remembered as a venomous lampooner.

STEVENSON, WILLIAM FLEMING 1832-1886

William Stevenson was born in Strabane, County Tyrone, and was educated at Belfast and Glasgow. In 1860 he was ordained as Presbyterian minister for Rathgar, where a new church was built for him. He travelled extensively as Convenor of Foreign Missions, and in 1882 was appointed Professor of Theology at Edinburgh University. He gained a Doctorate of Divinity and became Senator of the Royal University in 1879. Many of his works on the missions are published. [Biography by Ms Stevenson].

STEWART, ALEXANDER TURNLEY 1803-1875

Alexander Stewart was born in Lisburn, County Antrim, and emigrated to America, where he opened a drapery shop in New York. During the Great Famine he sent a shipload of food over to his fellow-countrymen, and in 1863 sent a further shipload to Lisburn during the cotton srike. He left a fortune of £15,000,000 when he died in New York.

STEWART, ANDREW c.1620-1671

Andrew Stewart was born in Donegore, County Antrim, and became Presbyterian minister of Donaghadee in 1645. He was imprisoned at Carlingford, County Louth, and wrote an account of the early settlement of the Presbyterians in Ireland.

STEWART, CHARLES 1764-1837

Charles Stewart was born in Lisburn, County Antrim, and joined the Bengal army in 1781. By 1800 he was Professor of Persian at Calcutta, and in 1827 Professor of Arabic and Hindustani at Haileybury. He wrote a great deal on oriental languages and eastern biography.

STEWART, CHARLES JOHN 1851-1932

Charles Stewart was born in Rock Hill, County Donegal, and was educated at Harrow. He was called to the Bar and to the Inner Temple in 1883. From 1890 to 1897 he was a senior offical receiver in bankruptcy cases. In 1897 he was appointed clerk to the London County Council. He was the first public trustee from 1907 unitl 1919, and he was knighted.

STEWART, CHARLES WILLIAM 1778-1854

Charles Stewart was born in Dublin and joined the army serving in the Netherlands and in the Peninsular War. He was promoted to the rank of general and in 1814 was appointed Ambassador to Vienna. He was a Member of Parliament for County Londonderry from 1801 to 1814, and joint Governor of County Down. In 1852 he was knighted, and he succeeded as 3rd Marquis of Londonderry. He wrote narratives of military campaigns. A monument to him was erected at Scrabo, County Down. [Biography by Sir A. Alison]

STEWART, ELLIE c.1867-c. 1948

Ellie Stewart grew up in Derry, and was educated at Victoria High School, Derry. She taught French in Scotland. When she retired, she lived in Ann Street, Ballycastle, County Antrim, and attended the Presbyterian College in Belfast. Women could not be ordained, but she did preach widely from the pulpit, and wore a cap and gown. She published a volume of poetry and prose, From a Ballycastle Garden. She was a Suffragist and published monthly articles in the People's Friend. During the period when she was studying for her degree, rheumatic fever confined her to a wheel-chair.

STEWART, GEORGE VESEY 1832-1920

George Vesey Stewart was born in Martray, County Tyrone. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and eventually emigrated to New Zealand after a period of farming. He planned a settlement of Ulster gentry and tenant farmers, of which he would become the patriarchal head. Twenty-eight families arrived by sailing ship in 1875, and in 1878 were joined by another three hundred and seventy-eight people. Stewart bought land from the New Zealand Government and sold it in farm lots to the immigrants who settled at Katikati on the shores of Tauranga Harbour. After an initial period of disillusionment the community thrived, especially after the discovery of the Martha gold mine in Waihi, just twenty miles away. Dairy farming was developed. In 1880 to 1881 Stewart founded another settlement, Te Puke. After a short stay in England he returned to Katikati where he died. It is estimated that he was responsible for settling four thousand people from Ulster in New Zealand.

STEWART, ROBERT d.1670

Robert Stewart came from Scotland and in 1617 was granted lands in Cavan, Fermanagh and Leitrim. He was appointed Governor of Culmore Castle on Lough Foyle in 1638, and became Governor of Derry in 1643. He had defeated Owen Roe O'Neill near Clones, County Monaghan. In 1648 he was arrested by the Parliamentarians and taken to London, but he managed to escape and join the Royalist army. He then returned to Scotland until the Restoration, after which he served a term as Governor of Derry.

STEWART, ROBERT 1739-1821

Robert Stewart was a Member of Parliament for County Down and in 1789 was created Baron Londonderry. In 1795 he became Viscount Castlereagh; in 1797 he was created an earl, and in 1816 1st Marquis of Londonderry. He was a prominent member of the Volunteer movement. He was opposed to Catholic Emancipation. He died at Mountstewart, County Down, and was succeeded by his son Robert, Lord Castlereagh.

STEWART, ROBERT TEMPLE 1769-1822

Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh and 2nd Marquis of Londonderry, was born in Dublin and was educated at the Royal School, Armagh, and St John's College, Cambridge. In 1790 he was elected to the Irish parliament, where he advocated the suppression of the Volunteers, and in 1798 he became Chief Secretary. He believed the Act of Union in 1800 was essential to preserve the Empire. When Catholic Emancipation did not follow as had been promised, he resigned. In 1805 he was appointed Secretary for War and until his death he played a prominent role in British politics. In 1812 he was appointed Foreign Secretary and masterminded the coalition against Napoleon, and he was instrumental in negotiating terms for peace at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. After this point his popularity waned, and in 1822 he committed suicide. His Correspondence and Despatches (12 vols) was published between 1847 and 1853.

STEWART, SAMUEL ALEXANDER c.1826-1910

Samuel Stewart was born in America, and at the age of eleven accompanied his family when they returned to Ireland. From that age he was an errand boy and later worked in factories and shops. In 1880 he became assistant curator of the Belfast Museum and in 1891 was appointed curator. He was the foremost authority on botany, zoology and geology in the north of Ireland. He published, among other papers, The Latest Fluctutations of the Sea Level on our Own Coasts and A List of the Fossils of the Estuarine Clays of the Counties of Down and Antrim. In 1874 he produced a list of the mosses of the northeast of Ireland. He contributed to the botanical publications of the Royal Irish Academy and the British Academy. He edited the Flora of the North East of Ireland and made a botanical study of the Mourne Mountains. He died as a result of a street accident.

STEWART, WILLIAM 1653-1692

William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy, was a soldier in the English army. He became Commissioner for Managing Claims, and in 1684 was made Master-General of the Ordnance for life. He was appointed Governor of Derry, but was soon replaced by Lundy. He went to Paris, where he was arrested and dismissed from the Master-Generalship. He was held in custody until 1692, and on his release joined William's army and was killed at the Battle of Steenkirk.

STEWART, WILLIAM JOSEPH 1900-1958

William Stewart played rugby at Queen's University, Belfast. Between 1924 and 1928 he was capped for Ireland ten times.

STOCK, JOSEPH 1740-1813

Joseph Stock was born in Dublin and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He became Rector of Conwall, Letterkenny, County Donegal, and headmaster of Portora School, Enniskillen, in 1795. In 1798 he became Bishop of Killala and was taken prisoner by the French. He was a scholar and linguist and wrote What Passed at Killala, an account of the French occupation of the town. In 1810 he was appointed Bishop of Waterford.

STOKES, GABRIEL 1849-1920

Gabriel Stokes was born in County Kilkenny and was educated at Kilkenny, Armagh and Trinity College, Dublin. In 1871 he entered the Indian civil service, became a member of council and Governor of Madras. He was knighted in 1909.

STONE, GEORGE c.1708-1764

George Stone was born in London and was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. After he had taken holy orders he came to Dublin as chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant, the Duke of Dorset. In 1733 he became Dean of Ferns, and in 1734 Dean of Derry. In 1740 he became Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, and in 1743 Bishop of Kildare and Dean of Christ Church. He was appointed Bishop of Derry in 1745, and Archbishop of Armagh, Lord Justice and a member of the Irish Privy Council in 1747. In 1758 he was again appointed Lord Justice and, with the Earl of Shannon and John Ponsonby, was responsible for the government of Ireland until 1765.

STORY, GEORGE WALKER d.1721

George Story came to Ireland as an English clergyman in 1689 and was an army chaplain at the Battle of the Boyne. From 1694 to 1705 he was Dean of Connor and then became Dean of Limerick. Among his publications are An Impartial History of the War in Ireland, published in two parts..

STOTHERD, RICHARD HUGH 1828-1895

Richard Stotherd was born in Augher, County Tyrone, and was educated at Woolwich. He joined the Royal Engineers in 1847 and served in Canada. While working as an instructor at Chatham he organised the first field telegraph. From 1876 to 1881 he served with the Royal Engineers in Belfast, was placed in charge of Ordnance Survey in Ireland, and two years later of the United Kingdom Ordnance Survey. In 1886 he retired with the rank of major general and nine years later died in Surrey.

STOTT, THOMAS 1755-1829

Thomas Stott was born in Hillsborough, County Down. His family were involved in linen bleaching. He published poetry in the Northern Star in Belfast and the Morning Post in London and was satirised by Lord Byron in English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. He published Songs of Deardra, and when Bishop Percy died he erected a memorial to him at Dromore, County Down. He wrote under the pen-name 'Hafiz', or Banks of Banna.

STOUPE, SEAMUS 1872-1949

Seamus Stoupe was born in Belfast and educated at the Belfast Model School. In 1904 he was Modelling Master at the Belfast School of Art, and remained until 1938. He was a sculptor and a painter. He was President of the Ulster Arts Club and a member of the Belfast Art Society. He exhibited in Belfast and Dublin, and his self-portrait is in the Ulster Museum.

STRATHDEE, ERNEST d.1971

Ernie Strathdee was educated at Belfast High School. He was a Presbyterian minister and a T.V. sports journalist. He played rugby for Queen's University, Belfast and won nine caps for Ireland. He was a member of the Grand Slam side of 1948 and the Triple Crown sides of 1949. In 1947 he captained Ireland against Australia, and in 1948 against France. He died in a hotel fire in Belfast. <

STUART, JAMES 1764-1840

James Stuart was born in Armagh and was educated at Armagh Royal School and Trinity College, Dublin. In 1811 he published Poems on Various Subjects and was called to the Bar. He was the first editor of the Newry Telegraph in 1812, and editor of the Newry Magazine from 1815 to 1819. In 1819 he published Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh, which is reckoned to be one of the most valuable works of its kind, and in 1825 The Protestant Layman. From 1821 to 1826 he edited the Belfast News-Letter and was co-founder of the Guardian and Constitutional Advocate.

SULLIVAN, ROBERT JOSEPH 1803-1868

Robert Sullivan was born in Holywood, County Down, and was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Trinity College, Dublin. In 1850 he gained a Doctorate of Laws and was appointed Inspector of National Schools and Professor of English at Marlborough Street. He wrote many textbooks and books on education.

SWANZY, HENRY BIDALL 1873-1932

Henry Swanzy was born in Newry, County Down, and was educated locally and at Trinity College, Dublin. He was ordained in 1899, and in 1926 became a canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and five years later Dean of Dromore. He was an ardent genealogist and was the author of many family histories and of the History of the Diocese of Dromore. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy and of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. He died in a street accident in London.