Irish Jesuit Province

Nutshell Biograms.Third HandfulSource: The Irish Monthly, Vol. 14, No. 159 (Sep., 1886), pp. 482-487Published by: Irish Jesuit ProvinceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20497456 .

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( 482 )

NUTSHELL BIOGRAMS.

ThDi HANDFUL.

18.Mm GaR.uLD KEoN was the last male descendant of an ancient

Irish family of Roscommon, the Keons of Keonbrook (which at least some owners of the name make a dissyllable, quite different from "Keown"). He was born in 1821. His father dying in. 1824 and his mother in 1825, the little boy was left in charge of their grand.

mother, the Countess Magawley, and upon her death soon after, her only son, Count Magawley, acted as his guardian.* Young Keon was sent to Stonyhurst in 1832, and the college records for the following year state, that in scrtptione Latina, Gallica, Anglica tulit prinsmu

pramium Milesius lieon. After his schooldays he spent some time in Algeria but settled in London in 1843, and became a professional man of letters, in which career his religion and his nationality told seriously against him. He edited -Dolman's Magazinee, in 1846, being preceded in that office by Mr. Digby Beste, and succeeded by the Rev. Edward Price, of Lincoln's Inn Fields, author of "1Sick Calls." At this time he published a "1 Life of St. Alexis," and contributed to the Dublin Review. le was for twelve years a leader-writer for The Morning Post. At this period he wrote " Harding, the Money-Spinner," for the London Journal, which was republished by Bentley, in book-form, in 1879, four years after the author's death. A Christian romance of the time of Augustus, called "hDion and the Sibyls," is his most finished literary work. But a mach more important and successful work was

his "L Lessons in French, with which, his name is, unfortunately, not linked in any way; for the book is called Cassell's Lessons in French.

The present writer can, from practical use of this work, confirm the opinion of a critic, who called it " an elementary masterpiece." In 1856 Mr. Keon went to Moscow, as corresponcdent for the Morning Post, on the occasion of the Emperor Alexander's coronation. A French traveller, Mf. Boncher de Perthes, in his Voyage en Russie, says of him; " Tres religieux, comme la plupart des Catholiques Irlandais, sa religion touchait de pr6s au fanatisme." God reward this good Irishman for thus impressing the Frenchman, who probably was by no

means fanatical in his piety, poor fellow. His friend, the first Lord Lytton, the novelist, procured for him in

* The Stonyhurst Magazine, to which we owe these particulars, mentions that this

distinguished Irishman married, in 1808, a grand-niece of Pope Benedict XIV.

(Lambertmi), was, in 1812, envoy from the Pope to Napoleon, regent of the Duchy of

Parma till it was apportioned to the Empress Maria Louisa, in 1815, and then her

Prime Minister till 1,823.

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Nutshell Biograms. 483

1858, the position of Secretary to the Government of Bermuda, which

he held till his death in 1875.

19. JOHN FISHER MuRRAY was born in Belfast, February 1i, 1811,

and died in Dublin, October 20, 1865. His grave in Glasnevin is not

far from those of Clarence Mangan and Denis Florence Mac Carthy.' His father, Sir James Murray (knighted by the Earl of Mulgrave when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for some special professional service), was a distinguished Belfast Physician who removed to Dublin.

His patent for the manufacture of fluid magnesia is still a valuable property for his representatives. John Fisher Mlurray was the onc

famous II Irish Oyster Eater" of BJackwood'e Magazine; and he con tributed very characteristic prose and verse to John Mitchel's United Iris/hman. Almost every one of the few poems we have seen from his pen seems to us to possess more than ordinary merit. We hope to trace him through the Magazines of his time, and to publish some personal details which have been confided to us. But, meanwhile, to make sure of bringing his name before our readers, we place it here. For many a design of this sort will never be fulfilled.

20. PATRICK DORIrAN was born in March, 1814, at Downpatrick, at a spot now inclosed within the beautiful Convent of the Sisters of

Mercy on Mount St. Patrick. After his theological course in May nooth he needed the positive command of his confessor, Dr. Russell, his diocesan and then a young professor, to overcome his dread of the sanctity and responsibilities of the priesthood, He was ordained by

Dr. Murray, Archbishop of Dublin, September 23, 1837. He was consecrated Bishop of Down and Connor on the 15th of August, 1860, in St. Malachy's, Belfast, and after a most laborious and most fruitful episcopate he died in Belfast on the Feast of St. Malachy, November 3, 1885.

21. An Irish-American correspondent says it is almost certain that Andrew Jackson, who is considered the greatest military genius of America, was born in Ireland, though his biographers say he was born in North Carolina, March 15, 1 7167; some think because foreign birth

might have disqualified him for the Presidency. His greatest glory was his victory over the British, in the battle of New Orleans, in 1828 1832, January 8th, 1815. He was twice elected President, over such rivals as John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. He was the most popular of Presidents; there are towis called after him in every State of the Union. His despatches and messages were in good, vigorous English, but his spelling was defective. With him originated the

* It is immediately behind the old and now disused burying-place of the members

of the Society of Jesus.

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484 Nuishell -Biograms.

formulary " O.K." as the initials of " All Correct," still in use over

all the States. He died in Tennessee, June 8, 1845.

22. The same Irish-American correspondent gives the names of several distinguished Irishmen connected with American history, where

it is linked with Spain. Don Alexander O'Reilly, the greatest of all

the Spanish Governors in Louisiana, was born in Meath, in 1 735, and died in Spain, in 1797. Several of the descendants of Conde O'Reilly still serve the Spanish Government in Cuba. Count M'Carthy was a leading man in New Orleans, in the first years of the present century.

Count Arthur O'Neill was made Governor of Florida in 1780, when Galvey, Governor of Louisiana, wrested Florida from the English and restoreid it to Spain. O'Farrell, Marquis of Casacalvo, was

Governor of Louisiana for the K:ing of Spain, 1799-1801.

23. This paragraph will not contaiin a nutshell biogram, but a few

remarks about nutshell biograms. A correspondent, J. G.-not the "r ich and rare" contributor who bears those initials-has expressed

very intelligent sympathy with these biographical miniatures, and has

furnished a long list of persons living and dead, who might, he thinks, be nutshelled for the information of our readers. Very many of the

living we do not venture to name, even in this pasing way; but amongst the living concerning whom our correspondent thinks our readers ,would wish to know something, are Miss Kathleen O'Meara and Lady Wilde; and among the dead, Miss Attie O'Brien. In this con

text we may gratify J. G., and others who have noticed the coincidence

of baptismal and surname, by informing them that the lady whose name

oceurred in the obituary column of The Freeman's Journal of March

10th, 1886, was not the gifted writer who will soon reappear in our

pages. We must confess ourselves unacquainted with Mrs. Anastatia

O'Byrne, author of " Lives of Irish Saints." J. G. wishes for nut

shell biograms also of Father C. P. Meehan, Martin Haverty, Sir

Bernard Burke, W. M. Hennessy, J. T. Gilbert, and Sir William

Betham, who is somewhat anachronistically sandwiched between T. P.

Prendergast and Dr. John M'Donnell. Amongst the nutshellable priests our correspondent names Dr. Renehan and Dr. Matthew Kelly -of Maynooth, Dr. M'Carthy of Kerry, " Dr. Moran," who we suppose isL the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, and the " Rev. M. J. O'Farrel, "

by whom he probably means the first Bishop of Trenton in the United

States. By an oversight he names Richard Dowling, who has already appeared as No. .10 of this series, at page 158. Blotting out this name

and two or three others, for various reasons, we shfall let J. G. finish his catalogue raisonne in a paragraph all his own. He had previously named Mr. Alfred Webb, Dr. Stokes, the Rev. M. 3. Buckley, W. J

Fitzpatrick, and many more.

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Nutshell Biograms. 485

24. "1 I may give the remainder of my list without classification, and as they occur to me, writing from memory as I am. Thomas

Wallis, who wrote the Introduction to Davis's Poems: J. F. Murray and Miles Gerald Keon, both of whom you regretfully referred to in the IRIsn MONTHLY long ago, at finding no place in Alfred Webb's ' Compendium.' David Rarbison, an Ulster weaver poet, like Francis

Davis, but not so famous; William Allingham; Dr. P. A. Murray of Maynooth, Dr. N. Callan, also of Maynooth; Richard O'Sullivan, the least known of a gifted family. As you gave John Boyle O'Reilly, you might also give another Irish-American poet, John Savage; and as you gave an Irish-American actor you might give two Irish-Ameri can dramatists and actors, John Brougham and Dion Boucicault. Townsend Young, D. 0. Madden: John Cashel Hoey (and his wife); Bartholomew Dowling, Martin M'Dermott, M. J. M'Oann, I. K.

Ingram, Dr. Sigerson, Mrs. S. C. Hall, W. B. M'Cabe, P. W.

Joyce, W. F. Wakeman. Dr. Maginn of Derry, of whom Darcy

M'Gee wrote a life; and Mrs. Sadlier, who wrote a life of Darcy M'Geo; M. J. Barry, Judge O'Hagan, J. E. Pigott, Dr. J. F. Waller, J. F. O'Donnell, J. S. Le Fanu, Frances Browne (the Blind Poetess); Sir Stephen de Yere, A. P. Graves, Arthur O'Shaughnessy, Abb

M'Carthy, Rev. George Crolly, Dr. John Anster, Charles Phillips, Helena Callanan; Miss Julia M. O'Ryan, William Collins. By a further effort of memory names would rise up ' thick as leaves in

Vallombrosa,' all, I think, deserving record."

25. In the foregoing paragraph I have cancelled six names, one of which at least is sure to find a place in our pages hereafter. Does J. G. mean the Protestant Rev. George Croly, author of " Salathiel," or the Catholic Rev. George Crolly, Professor at Maynooth ? Both were noteworthy Irishmen. Will the editcrial head be in danger of being pelted with nutshells if we express our readiness to receive biographies of suitable persons and personages if judiciously condensed into a paragraph apiece? We proceed forthwith to gratify on some points the laudable curiosity of I. G., with the help of another kind cor

respondent, J. C.

26. But first we must give a dry list of noteworthy or nutshel worthy names drawn up by this second correspondent also. Omitting very many forestalled in this list just given, we find Plowden, Windele of Cork, John Francis Maguire, John Dalton, lames Roche of Cork, John Cornelius O'Callaghan, Justin Mac Carthy father and son, Lady

Morgan, Lord DufEerin, Julia Kavanagh, Edmund O'Donovan, and those two gifted sisters, Miss Agnes Clerke and Wm E M. Clerke, to

be distinguished' from each other, and both from Miss A. M.

Clarke, Catholic also, but not Irish, and the author of many excellent

pages in Catholic periodicals. VOL. XIV. NO. 159. 36

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486 Nutshell Biograms.

27. THE REv. MICHAEL BERNARD Bucanrzy was born at Cork, on

9th of March, 1831. He was educated at the Mansion House School

under the Vincentian Fathers. In 1849 he entered Maynooth College.

He was an amiable and edifying studenit. One of his peculiar tastes

was for writing Latin verse, chiefly in the style of his townsman,

Father Prout. Let us put side by side four lines from him and from

Moore:

Fill tbe bumper fair: Pocula replete. Every drop we sprinkle Frons enim rugosa

On the brow of care Curae potu laeti

Smoothes away a wrinkle. Vini fit formosa.

In 1855 he was ordained priest, and after some time he was stationed in Cork, where he gained a higli reputation as a preacher. In 1868

he published "The Life and Times of the Rev. Arthur O'Leary," the famous Capuchin and controversial writer. He was very anxious,,

I remember, to hit on some other good literary subject; but probably his mission to the United States to collect funds for the completion of

the Cathedral of Cork, put an end to all such projects. He returned

in October, 1871, in broken health, and died on the 17th of May, 1872, in his 42nd year. A Celtic cross marks his grave in the Botanic

Gardens Cemetery of his native city. The Rev. Charles Davis, P.P.

of Baltimore, in the Diocese of Ross, since so well known for his

exertions on behalf of the poor fishermen of Cape Clear, edited in 1874 a volume of Father Buckley's " Sermon and Lectures," to which

some literary papers and classical facetie form an interesting

appenidii.

28. JoHN ANSTER was born at Charleville, in the county of Cork, in 1793, and spent part of his boyhood at Bruree-the place where

the Irish bards used to meet for half-yearly competitions, continued, according to O'Halloran, to as late a period as 1746. Anster's father

was a Catholic ;* and for his son's change of religion Trinity College is, we fear, responsible. He entered that college in 1810, and won a

Scholarship in 1814 without the conflict which Denis Caulfield Heron had to go through for a similar' prize some thirty years later. He

published some poems while an Undergraduate, and "in 1817 he wrote

the prize poem on the death of the Princess Charlotte. He soon after

became a contributor to Blackwood8s lagazine, and, in 1820, the Julne number of that magazine published the first portion of his famous

translation of Goethe's " Faust "-a translation which, when completed, the Edinburgh Review pronounced " one of the few translations which

are admired, cited, and emulated in lieu of the originals." The trans

* The late Rev. Stephen Anster Farrell, S.J., was his cousin, We have heard

him more than once describe the courage with which in some Dublin Clubhouse, " Jack

Anster "

repelled an insult offered to the Catholic faith.

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Nutshell Biograms. 487

lation of the second part of "Faust " did not appear till 1864.* Mr. Anster was called to the Irish Bar in 1824, and went on the Munster Circuit. In 1837 he was appointed Registrar to the High Court of

Admiralty of Ireland. In 1841 a literary pension of ?150 a year was eonforred upon him. In 1850 he was appointed Regius Professor of Civil Law in Trinity College, Dublin. He died at 5 tower Gloucester

street, Dublin, on the 9th of June, 1867.

29. Jouw DALTON was born at Bessville, county Westmeath, in 1792. His talents were carefully cultivated, and he took his degrees in Trinity College, Dublin. After studying for the law, he was called to the Bar in 1813. The following year he published a metrical romance, in twelve cantos, bearing the title of " Dermid; or Erin in the

Days of Boroimhe." In 1828 he won the Royal Irish,jAcademy's Eighty Gainea Prize, for the best essay on " The Social and Political State of Ireland, from the First to the Twelfth Century, ' and the Cunningham Gold Medal also. This essay fills one of the large 4to volumes of the "Transactions" of the Royal Irish Academy: and is a proof of the learning, research, and national spirit of its author. In 1838 he published his " Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin, from Livinus, who died in 656 A.D., down to Dr. Murray who was then living. The same year, 1838, witnessed the publication of his "H History of the County of Dublin," a volume numbering one thousand pages, and forming a vast repertory of local knowledge. In 1844 he pro duced the "H History of Drogheda with its Environs," in two beauti fully illustrated volumes, which were quickly followed by his edition of the " Annals of Boyle." In 1855 appeared his best known work, the " Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical of King James's Irish

Army List, 1689." Assisted by Mr. J. R. O'Flanagan, B.L., of Fermoy, he next brought out a "H History of Dundalk." Mr. Dalton was an occasional contributor to periodicals. He furnished " Illustrations of Irish Topography" to the Irish Penny Journal, and wrote also in the

Gentleman's Magazine. The not very munificent pension of ?50 a year was awarded him from the Civil List, for his services to literature. Mr. Dalton died at No. 48 Summer-hill, Dublin, on 20th of January, 1866, in his 74th year; leaving at his death about two hundred large

manuscript volumes, relating to the topography, genealogy, and

history of every part of Ireland. [These particulars are taken from a sketch by Mr. J. R. O'Flanagan in the Dublin Saturday Magazine.]

* Anster's " Faust

" may be had for threepence in CasselPs National Library.

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