Edward Ledwich
Encyclopedia
Edward Ledwich LL.D. F.S.A. (1738 – 8 August 1823) was an Irish
historian
, antiquary and topographer.
He was educated at Trinity College
, Dublin, entering on the 22nd November 1755, and taking a B.A. in 1760 and a LL.B. in 1763.
He became vicar of Aghaboe
in 1772, which he must have resigned in 1797, as his successor was then appointed.
His article on the History and Antiquities of Irishtown and Kilkenny was published in 1781. The same article is appended to the second edition of his Antiquities of Ireland, 1804.
In 1790 he published his Antiquities of Ireland, which became a work of great repute in its day. However, nowadays it has no authority, through the imperfect information regarding Irish history current in his day. His theories were effectually set aside by Petrie
and later writers. In the index to Lanigan's
Ecclesiastical History there are no fewer than ninety-five references to errors made by Ledwich.
In 1791 Ledwich completed the editing and publication of his friend Captain Grose's Antiquities of Ireland.
He died at his house in York Street, Dublin, on 8 August 1823.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, antiquary and topographer.
Life
He was born in Dublin, the son of John Ledwich, a merchant.He was educated at Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin, entering on the 22nd November 1755, and taking a B.A. in 1760 and a LL.B. in 1763.
He became vicar of Aghaboe
Aghaboe
Aghaboe is a village and parish in County Laois, Ireland. It is located on the R434 regional road in the rural hinterland west of the town of Abbeyleix....
in 1772, which he must have resigned in 1797, as his successor was then appointed.
His article on the History and Antiquities of Irishtown and Kilkenny was published in 1781. The same article is appended to the second edition of his Antiquities of Ireland, 1804.
In 1790 he published his Antiquities of Ireland, which became a work of great repute in its day. However, nowadays it has no authority, through the imperfect information regarding Irish history current in his day. His theories were effectually set aside by Petrie
George Petrie
George Petrie , was an Irish painter, musician, antiquary and archaeologist of the Victorian era.-Personal life:...
and later writers. In the index to Lanigan's
John Lanigan
About him...
Ecclesiastical History there are no fewer than ninety-five references to errors made by Ledwich.
In 1791 Ledwich completed the editing and publication of his friend Captain Grose's Antiquities of Ireland.
He died at his house in York Street, Dublin, on 8 August 1823.