Steele, Sir Richard.—Born in Dublin in 1671 or 1672, and educated at the Charterhouse School, London, and at Oxford. In 1709 he commenced the publication of The Tatler, and followed it up by The Spectator, etc. He also wrote several comedies, and other works. He entered Parliament in 1713, and held one or two Government offices. He died in Wales on September 1st, 1729.
Sterne, Rev. Laurence.—Born at Clonmel, co. Tipperary, on November 24th, 1713, and graduated M.A. at Cambridge in 1740. His father was an officer in the army. He was ordained about 1740, and after some years of inactivity at home and travel abroad, wrote his great work, Tristram Shandy, which appeared at intervals between 1759 and 1767. His Sentimental Journey appeared in 1768. He died on March 18th, 1768.
Sullivan, Timothy Daniel.—This well-known politician is one of the most widely read of the Irish verse-writers, and has written a few songs which have deeply impressed themselves on Irish memories. But he excels in the writing of political skits, which at one time formed one of the chief features of the Nation newspaper, then edited by him. Several volumes of his poetical work have been published. He was born at Bantry, co. Cork, in 1827.
Swift, Rev. Jonathan, D.D.—This greatest of satirists in the English tongue was born in Hoey’s Court, Dublin, on November 30th, 1667, and graduated B. A. at Dublin University in 1686, and afterwards at Oxford. He was ordained in 1694, and published The Tale of a Tub in 1705. Gulliver’s Travels followed in 1726–27, and innumerable other works came from his pen. He was one of Ireland’s champions, and had an extraordinary popularity with the people. He died on October 19th, 1745.
Wade, Joseph Augustine.—An unfortunate Irish genius, born in Dublin in 1796, and the son of a dairyman in Thomas Street. As a poet and musician Wade has been highly praised. He composed some excellent songs. He made large sums of money by his writings and music, but was very erratic in his career. He died in poverty on September 29th, 1845.
Waller, John Francis, LL.D.—Born in Limerick in 1809, and connected with the Wallers of co. Tipperary. He graduated LL.D. at Dublin University in 1852, and held an important Government position in Dublin for many years. He was editor of The Dublin University Magazine for some time, and published several volumes of clever prose and verse. He is one of the best of Irish song-writers. Died on January 19th, 1894.
Williams, Richard Dalton.—Born in Dublin, of Tipperary family, on October 8th, 1822. Was one of the earliest and one of the leading contributors to The Nation, writing generally over the signature of “Shamrock.” His writings are often very fierce and intense, but his true power lay in the humorous vein, some of his parodies being almost unrivalled. He was implicated in the ’48 rising and was arrested, but was soon released, and went to America, where he became a professor of English literature at Mobile, Alabama. He was a medical student when he wrote for The Nation. He died in Louisiana on July 5th, 1862.
Winstanley, John.—A Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. He was born in 1678, and died in 1750. His poems first appeared in 1742, a second series being published after his death by his son.
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