James Whitelaw
Encyclopedia
The Rev. James Whitelaw was an Irish
historian, writer, statistician and philanthropist.
and educated at Trinity College
, Dublin. He graduated in 1771. He was ordained in the Church of Ireland
and became rector of St. James
and then St. Catherine's
in Thomas St.
in Dublin. He carried out a great deal of work on behalf of the poor, including establishing the Erasmus Smith Free School on the Coombe
and other institutions.
In 1798 he carried out a census of the city of Dublin (a difficult undertaking at the time on account of the 1798 Rising). Epidemic diseases were then frequent in Dublin, but, undeterred by the fear of infection, he personally inspected nearly every house in the city and questioned nearly every inhabitant. Hitherto the extent of the population had been only vaguely conjectured - he counted a total population of 182,370. He published the results of his investigations in 1805 in his Essay on the Population of Dublin in 1798. The many detailed statistics which he accumulated were stored in the city archives in Dublin Castle
, which were among those destroyed in the Four Courts
during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
In 1805 he was made one of the members of the commission to inquire into the conduct of the paving board of Dublin. He formed the Meath Charitable Loan in 1808.
He collaborated with John Warburton, deputy keeper of the records in Dublin Castle
, in writing a History of Dublin, completed after his death by Robert Walsh
.
He ministered to the poor in the vicinity of Cork Street Fever Hospital
, where he caught a fever himself and died in 1813.
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, writer, statistician and philanthropist.
Life
He was born in County LeitrimCounty Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
and 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. He graduated in 1771. He was ordained in the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
and became rector of St. James
St. James' Church and Cemetery
St. James' Church , a former Church of Ireland church in James Street, Dublin, Ireland, was established in 1707. The corresponding parish, which was separated from that of nearby St. Catherine's, was established in 1710. There had been a shrine dedicated to St. James at nearby St...
and then St. Catherine's
St. Catherine's Church, Dublin
St. Catherine's Church, on Thomas Street, in Dublin, Ireland, was originally built in 1185. It is located on what was once termed the "Slí Mór" - a key route that ran westwards across Ireland from Dublin. The church was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by John Smyth .The church...
in Thomas St.
Thomas Street (Dublin)
Thomas Street is a street in The Liberties in central Dublin, Ireland.-History:The street is named after the church of St. Thomas, founded in 1175 near St. Catherine's church. The founder was William FitzAldelm, deputy and kinsman of King Henry II. The church was dedicated to Thomas à Beckett...
in Dublin. He carried out a great deal of work on behalf of the poor, including establishing the Erasmus Smith Free School on the Coombe
The Coombe, Dublin
The Coombe is a historic street in the south inner city of Dublin, Ireland. It was originally a hollow or valley from where the river Poddle ran to the sea.-History:...
and other institutions.
In 1798 he carried out a census of the city of Dublin (a difficult undertaking at the time on account of the 1798 Rising). Epidemic diseases were then frequent in Dublin, but, undeterred by the fear of infection, he personally inspected nearly every house in the city and questioned nearly every inhabitant. Hitherto the extent of the population had been only vaguely conjectured - he counted a total population of 182,370. He published the results of his investigations in 1805 in his Essay on the Population of Dublin in 1798. The many detailed statistics which he accumulated were stored in the city archives in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, which were among those destroyed in the Four Courts
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
In 1805 he was made one of the members of the commission to inquire into the conduct of the paving board of Dublin. He formed the Meath Charitable Loan in 1808.
He collaborated with John Warburton, deputy keeper of the records in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, in writing a History of Dublin, completed after his death by Robert Walsh
Robert Walsh (Irish writer)
The Rev. Robert Walsh, M.D., LL.D, was an Irish clergyman, historian, writer and physician.-Life:Walsh was born in Waterford, Ireland, where many of his ancestors had been chief magistrates, in 1772. He entered Trinity College, Dublin on 2 November 1789, where he was a friend of Robert Emmet and...
.
He ministered to the poor in the vicinity of Cork Street Fever Hospital
Cork Street Fever Hospital, Dublin
The Fever Hospital was a hospital that opened in Cork St. in Dublin, Ireland on 14 May 1804. The hospital was located in a poor densely-populated part of the Dublin Liberties, though it had large grounds...
, where he caught a fever himself and died in 1813.
External links
- Ireland Sixty Years Ago, online book, based on the memories of Robert Walsh.