Robert Walsh (Irish writer)
Encyclopedia
The Rev. Robert Walsh, M.D., LL.D, (1772 – 30 June 1852) was an Irish
clergyman, historian, writer and physician.
, 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 Thomas Moore
. He was elected scholar in 1794, and graduated B.A. in 1796.
He was ordained a clergyman of the Church of Ireland
and was curate of Finglas
, in County Dublin, from 1806 to 1820. Here he married Anne, daughter of John Bayly, of Tolka, and here his son John Edward was born.
Robert Walsh published in 1815, in conjunction with John Warburton and the Rev. James Whitelaw
(both deceased by then), a History of the City of Dublin in two volumes.
He became chaplain to the British Embassy in St. Petersburg and then in Constantinople
in 1820. He was appointed chaplain to the British Embassy in Rio de Janeiro
in 1828. He spent 200 days in Brazil, travelling through the country to investigate the conditions of the slaves, and wrote Notices of Brazil in 1828 and 1829, as part of an effort to abolish the Slave Trade
. He urged the setting up of courts wherever there was a British consul, with the right to arrest and try slavers, even if they were not transporting slaves - the owner, master and crew would then be liable to severe punishment as pirates. In this way, he hoped, the trade would no longer be permitted, and "the whole of this ransacked and harassed coast will then be protected and every slaver on any part of it will be seized and tried as a pirate." As it transpired, the foreign slave trade was not abolished until 1850, and it took another thirty years to emancipate the slaves.
Walsh left Brazil on 4 May 1829. After two weeks on the sea the captain of his ship spotted a slave ship which he chased for thirty hours, firing shots across its bow which forced it to heave to. After boarding the ship Walsh saw at first hand the terrible conditions in which the slaves were transported. His ship arrived in Portsmouth on 30 June.
Walsh acquired a medical degree, and practised for some time as a physician. He returned to Ireland in 1835, where he obtained the living of Kilbride, Co. Wicklow
, and exchanged it for that of his earlier residence at Finglas in 1839, and died there in 1852.
Several generations of his family were interested in archaeology, and Robert Walsh was no exception. He made the discovery of a celebrated ancient cross called the Cross of Nethercross in Finglas. There was a tradition in the village that it had been buried in a certain place, still known to an old man who had heard it from his father. It had been interred to protect it from the fanatical zeal of Cromwell's soldiers. Robert Walsh had an excavation made at the spot indicated, and the cross was disinterred and set up in Finglas churchyard.
Robert Walsh's son, John Edward
, became Attorney-General for Ireland
and M.P. for Dublin University. He published in 1847 the popular Ireland Sixty Years Ago, which contained much information procured from his father, from a series of articles written by Robert for the Dublin University Magazine
.
Robert Walsh's brother, Edmond (died 1832) was also a writer who had a brilliant career as an army surgeon all over the world, before settling in Dublin.
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...
clergyman, historian, writer and physician.
Life
Walsh was born in WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Ireland
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...
, where many of his ancestors had been chief magistrates, in 1772. He entered 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 on 2 November 1789, where he was a friend of Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
and Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
. He was elected scholar in 1794, and graduated B.A. in 1796.
He was ordained a clergyman of 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 was curate of Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
, in County Dublin, from 1806 to 1820. Here he married Anne, daughter of John Bayly, of Tolka, and here his son John Edward was born.
Robert Walsh published in 1815, in conjunction with John Warburton and the Rev. James Whitelaw
James Whitelaw
The Rev. James Whitelaw was an Irish historian, writer, statistician and philanthropist.-Life:He was born in County Leitrim 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....
(both deceased by then), a History of the City of Dublin in two volumes.
He became chaplain to the British Embassy in St. Petersburg and then in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
in 1820. He was appointed chaplain to the British Embassy in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in 1828. He spent 200 days in Brazil, travelling through the country to investigate the conditions of the slaves, and wrote Notices of Brazil in 1828 and 1829, as part of an effort to abolish the Slave Trade
Slavery in Brazil
Slavery in Brazil shaped the country's social structure and ethnic landscape. During the colonial epoch and for over six decades after the 1822 independence, slavery was a mainstay of the Brazilian economy, especially in mining, cotton, and sugar cane production.Brazil obtained an estimated 35% of...
. He urged the setting up of courts wherever there was a British consul, with the right to arrest and try slavers, even if they were not transporting slaves - the owner, master and crew would then be liable to severe punishment as pirates. In this way, he hoped, the trade would no longer be permitted, and "the whole of this ransacked and harassed coast will then be protected and every slaver on any part of it will be seized and tried as a pirate." As it transpired, the foreign slave trade was not abolished until 1850, and it took another thirty years to emancipate the slaves.
Walsh left Brazil on 4 May 1829. After two weeks on the sea the captain of his ship spotted a slave ship which he chased for thirty hours, firing shots across its bow which forced it to heave to. After boarding the ship Walsh saw at first hand the terrible conditions in which the slaves were transported. His ship arrived in Portsmouth on 30 June.
Walsh acquired a medical degree, and practised for some time as a physician. He returned to Ireland in 1835, where he obtained the living of Kilbride, Co. Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and exchanged it for that of his earlier residence at Finglas in 1839, and died there in 1852.
Several generations of his family were interested in archaeology, and Robert Walsh was no exception. He made the discovery of a celebrated ancient cross called the Cross of Nethercross in Finglas. There was a tradition in the village that it had been buried in a certain place, still known to an old man who had heard it from his father. It had been interred to protect it from the fanatical zeal of Cromwell's soldiers. Robert Walsh had an excavation made at the spot indicated, and the cross was disinterred and set up in Finglas churchyard.
Robert Walsh's son, John Edward
John Edward Walsh
John Edward Walsh PC, QC was an Irish lawyer and Conservative politician. He served as Attorney-General for Ireland in 1865 and as Master of the Rolls in Ireland from 1866 to 1870.-Background and education:...
, became Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
and M.P. for Dublin University. He published in 1847 the popular Ireland Sixty Years Ago, which contained much information procured from his father, from a series of articles written by Robert for the Dublin University Magazine
Dublin University Magazine
The Dublin University Magazine was an independent literary cultural and political magazine published in Dublin from 1833 to 1882. It started out as a magazine of political commentary but increasingly became devoted to literature.-Early days:...
.
Robert Walsh's brother, Edmond (died 1832) was also a writer who had a brilliant career as an army surgeon all over the world, before settling in Dublin.
External links
- Extracts from Notices of Brazil in 1828 and 1829
- Notices of Brazil Vol. 1 online book
- Notices of Brazil Vol. 2 online book
- Madeira Historical Archive (in Portuguese)
- Ireland Sixty Years Ago, online book, based on the memories of Robert Walsh.