Charles French Blake-Forster
Encyclopedia
Charles French Blake-Forster (1851–1874) was an Irish writer.
Born at Forster Street House, Galway
City, the eldest son of Captain Francis Blake-Forster of the Connaught Rangers, educated at home and later in England
. Began to play a prominent part in Galway's public affairs upon his return in his late teens. He became a town councellor, a member of the local Board of Guardians, and in 1874 High Sheriff of Galway Town
. He presided in this capacity at three Parliamently elections in 1874. He died aged 23 on 9 September 1874, and was laid to rest in the family vault at Bushypark, on the Galway-Oughterard
road.
He had a deep and abiding interest in the history of the county. He contributed a number of articles on this subject to the Galway Vindicator
and Galway Express between 1869 and 1871. His only full-length published work, The Irish Chieftains, or, a struggle for the Crown, was published in 1872 by McGlashran & Gill. It was an account of the Williamite War in Ireland
from the perspective of Galwegians, many of them historical - Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy
- including some of his ancestors.
Some ten other works attributed to him in The Irish Chieftains have never been published nor traced, appearing to have disappeared sometime after his death.
He was a grand-nephew of the last Warden of Galway, Edmund Ffrench
.
Born at Forster Street House, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
City, the eldest son of Captain Francis Blake-Forster of the Connaught Rangers, educated at home and later in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Began to play a prominent part in Galway's public affairs upon his return in his late teens. He became a town councellor, a member of the local Board of Guardians, and in 1874 High Sheriff of Galway Town
High Sheriff of Galway Town
The High Sheriff of Galway Town was the Sovereign's judicial representative in the county of the Town of Galway. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he had...
. He presided in this capacity at three Parliamently elections in 1874. He died aged 23 on 9 September 1874, and was laid to rest in the family vault at Bushypark, on the Galway-Oughterard
Oughterard
Oughterard is a small town on the banks of the Owenriff River close to the western shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. The population of the town in 2006 was 1,305...
road.
He had a deep and abiding interest in the history of the county. He contributed a number of articles on this subject to the Galway Vindicator
Galway Vindicator
The Galway Vindicator was a newspaper which operated in Galway, Ireland from 10 July 1841 to 4 November 1899. It was one of several newspapers founded to help advance the agenda of Daniel O'Connell and was noted for its daily coverage of the effects of the Great Famine.-References: at Gale Group...
and Galway Express between 1869 and 1871. His only full-length published work, The Irish Chieftains, or, a struggle for the Crown, was published in 1872 by McGlashran & Gill. It was an account of the Williamite War in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
from the perspective of Galwegians, many of them historical - Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy
O'Shaughnessy
Ó Seachnasaigh, O'Shaughnessy, collectively Uí Sheachnasaigh, clan name Cinél nAedha na hEchtghe, is a family surname of Irish origin.The name is found primarily in County Galway and County Limerick...
- including some of his ancestors.
Some ten other works attributed to him in The Irish Chieftains have never been published nor traced, appearing to have disappeared sometime after his death.
He was a grand-nephew of the last Warden of Galway, Edmund Ffrench
Edmund Ffrench
Edmund Ffrench, O.P., Warden of Galway, Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, 1775-1852.Ffrench was a descendant of The Tribes of Galway, though by the 18th century his family had become Protestant. His father, Edmund, was Mayor of Galway and the town's Protestant Warden...
.
External links
- http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/kilfenora_annals/index.htm