Walter Harris (historian)
Encyclopedia
Walter Harris was an Irish
historian
and writer
.
Harris was educated at Kilkenny Grammar School and Trinity College
, Dublin. He married Elizabeth Ware, great-grand-daughter of Sir James Ware, the historian, in 1716 and became vicar-general to the Archbishop of Meath
in 1753.
In the 1730s, along with others of his time, he was in favour of a scheme to compile and publish histories of all Irish counties. He also started to revise and republish the historical and topographical writings of Sir James Ware, translating them from Latin to English. The first to be published was Historiographorum Aliorumque Scriptorum Hiberniae Commentarium: or, a history of the Irish writers (Dublin, 1736). To increase the attractiveness of these books he commissioned from Jonas Blaymires drawings of buildings and their contents.
He received a government pension in 1748, which enabled him to work on histories and religious writings.
In the 1740s he was involved with the Physico-Historical Society, a similar society to the Royal Dublin Society
, along with such luminaries as Robert Jocelyn
, Dr. Samuel Madden
, the philanthropist; Thomas Prior, the founder of the Royal Dublin Society
; John Rutty
the physician and naturalist; John Lodge, author of Peerage of Ireland; Charles Smith
, the topographer and historian.
In 1752 in a book published in Dublin he bitterly attacked a book by John Curry
published in London in 1747, a Brief Account from the most authentic Protestant writers of the Irish Rebellion, 1641, which was against partisan anti-Catholic history. In reply Curry published his Historical Memoirs, afterwards enlarged and published in 1775 under the title An Historical and Critical Review of the Civil Wars in Ireland.
He died at his house in Clarendon St., Dublin, in 1761.
In 1766 his work The history and antiquities of the city of Dublin was published.
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...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Harris was educated at Kilkenny Grammar School and 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 married Elizabeth Ware, great-grand-daughter of Sir James Ware, the historian, in 1716 and became vicar-general to the Archbishop of Meath
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
in 1753.
In the 1730s, along with others of his time, he was in favour of a scheme to compile and publish histories of all Irish counties. He also started to revise and republish the historical and topographical writings of Sir James Ware, translating them from Latin to English. The first to be published was Historiographorum Aliorumque Scriptorum Hiberniae Commentarium: or, a history of the Irish writers (Dublin, 1736). To increase the attractiveness of these books he commissioned from Jonas Blaymires drawings of buildings and their contents.
He received a government pension in 1748, which enabled him to work on histories and religious writings.
In the 1740s he was involved with the Physico-Historical Society, a similar society to the Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
, along with such luminaries as Robert Jocelyn
Earl of Roden
Earl of Roden is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1771 for Robert Jocelyn, 2nd Viscount Jocelyn. This branch of the Jocelyn family descends from the 1st Viscount, prominent Irish lawyer and politician Robert Jocelyn, the son of Thomas Jocelyn, third son of Sir Robert Jocelyn,...
, Dr. Samuel Madden
Samuel Madden
Samuel Madden was an Irish author. His works include Themistocles; The Lover of His Country, Reflections and Resolutions Proper for the Gentlemen of Ireland, and Memoirs of the Twentieth Century. Dr...
, the philanthropist; Thomas Prior, the founder of the Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
; John Rutty
John Rutty
John Rutty was a Dublin Quaker physician and naturalist born in Melksham. He was the author of many texts including A methodical synopsis of the Mineral Waters of Ireland and An Essay towards the Natural History of the County of Dublin...
the physician and naturalist; John Lodge, author of Peerage of Ireland; Charles Smith
Charles Smith
-Academics:*Charles Emrys Smith, British economist, educator at Swansea Metropolitan University*Charles Roach Smith , founding member of the British Archaeological Association*Charles Saumarez Smith , art historian...
, the topographer and historian.
In 1752 in a book published in Dublin he bitterly attacked a book by John Curry
John Curry (historian)
John Curry was an Irish doctor of medicine, historian, and Roman Catholic activist.-Life:...
published in London in 1747, a Brief Account from the most authentic Protestant writers of the Irish Rebellion, 1641, which was against partisan anti-Catholic history. In reply Curry published his Historical Memoirs, afterwards enlarged and published in 1775 under the title An Historical and Critical Review of the Civil Wars in Ireland.
He died at his house in Clarendon St., Dublin, in 1761.
In 1766 his work The history and antiquities of the city of Dublin was published.
External links
- http://members.cox.net/wdegidio/ware/WaresofIreland.htm
- Hibernica: or, Some antient places relating to Ireland Online book