Barbour, John (c. 1330–1395), ecclesiastic and verse historian, was author of the Old or Middle Scots poem The Bruce. His birth is usually placed about 1325, as much to give him a toehold in Robert I's reign as for anything his career tells us, and a slightly later date seems likelier. The trade name he inherited suggests that his father was a barber, and ...
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A. F. Pollard
revised by Rosemary Mitchell
Bridgett, Thomas Edward (1829–1899), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born at Derby on 20 January 1829, in a house attached to the mill owned by his father, a silk manufacturer. He was the third son of the seven children of Joseph Bridgett...
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Terry Clavin
Carew [Carve], Thomas (b. c. 1590, d. in or after 1672), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born in Mobernan, co. Tipperary. His father's name is unknown, but his mother was a member of the Butlers of Ormond and he enjoyed the patronage of this powerful aristocratic clan. He spoke Irish, and regardless of his anxiety to stress his Anglo-Norman ancestry, he appears to have come from a Gaelicized background. He became a priest in the diocese of ...
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Thompson Cooper
revised by David Allan
Carruthers, James (1759–1832), historian and Roman Catholic priest, was born at New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire, the son of Andrew Carruthers and Lucy Rigg. His brother was Andrew Carruthers, vicar apostolic of the eastern district. He was educated for six years at the Scots College...
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Thompson Cooper
revised by Alexander Du Toit
Dodd, Charles [formerly Hugh Tootel] (1672–1743), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born Hugh Tootel at Durton in Broughton, near Preston, Lancashire. He was confirmed in the Roman Catholic church at Euxton Burgh Chapel, the property of the Dalton family, on 13 September 1687, by ...
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Ignatius Fennessy
Harold, Francis (c. 1617–1685), Franciscan priest and historian, was born in Limerick, the nephew and cousin respectively of prominent Franciscans Luke Wadding and Bonaventure Baron. Thomas Harold, a leading disciple of Peter Walsh, was also a cousin, and two other Franciscans shared his name, one a nephew. After education in ...
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Brian M. Halloran
Innes, Thomas (1662–1744), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born at Drumgask in the parish of Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, the third of eight children (of whom five became priests) of James Innes (c.1617–1686), wad-setter, and his wife, Jane Robertson (c.1619–1704)...
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Bernadette Cunningham
Keating [Keting], Geoffrey [Seathrún Céitinn] (b. c. 1580, d. in or before 1644), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born in the vicinity of Cahir, co. Tipperary, of parents whose names are not certain, but who were 'of good reputation and in warm circumstances...
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W. A. J. Archbold
revised by Patrick J. Corish
Kelly, Matthew (1814–1858), historian and Roman Catholic priest, born in Maudlin-Street, Kilkenny, on 21 September 1814, was the eldest son of James Kelly and Margaret Sauphy. An uncle, Patrick Kelly, was bishop of Waterford. Kelly was taught in very early years by M. S. Brennan...
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John Lingard (1771–1851) by Thomas Skaife, 1848 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Lingard, John (1771–1851), Roman Catholic priest and historian, only son of John Lingard (c.1738–1804), a carpenter and builder, and his wife, Elizabeth Reynolds (c.1733–1824), was born in Winchester on 5 February 1771. He was one of the last students to study at the ...
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Oliver, George (1781–1861), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born at Newington, Surrey, on 9 February 1781, the son of James and Anne Oliver. He was educated at Sedgley Park in Staffordshire from 1789 and at Stonyhurst College from 1796 to 1802. He remained at ...
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Oxford, Walter of (d. in or before 1151
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Joseph Stevenson (1806–1895) by Charles Matthew, c. 1889 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Francis Edwards
Stevenson, Joseph (1806–1895), historian, archivist, and Church of England clergyman, was born on 27 November 1806 at Berwick upon Tweed, the eldest son of Robert Stevenson, surgeon, and his wife, Elizabeth Wilson. He had two sisters. After his first schooling at Witton-le-Wear he entered the grammar school attached to ...
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Luke Wadding (1588–1657) by Carlo Maratti, c. 1653 unknown collection; photograph Sotheby's Picture Library, London / National Portrait Gallery, London
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Ignatius Fennessy
Wadding, Luke [name in religion Francis] (1588–1657), Roman Catholic priest and historian, was born in Waterford, Ireland, on 16 October 1588 and baptized on 18 October, St Luke's day.
