April 08

Edward Mulhare, actor, is born in Co. Cork

Gretta Bowen, artist known as the Irish Grandma Moses, died

Home Rule Bill introduced in English Parliament by Gladstone

A. E. (George Russell), pivotal Irish Renaissance poet, painter, journalist and mystic, is born

John George Adair evicts 244 tenants on his estate at Derryveagh, Co. Donegal

Sir Jonah Barrington, the Irish Parliaments leading opponent of the Union with Britain and author, dies

Born in 1760, fourth of six children of John Barrington, landowner in Queen’s Co. Admitted to the bar in 1788 and eventually became a Judge of the High Court of Admiralty.

Sir Frederick Burton, painter, is born in Corofin, Co. Clare

Sir William Rowan Hamilton, mathematician and astronomer, is born in Dublin

Sir William Rowan Hamilton MRIA, FRAS (3/4 August 1805 – 2 September 1865) was an Irish mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He was the Andrews Professor of Astronomy at Trinity College Dublin, and Royal Astronomer of Ireland, living at Dunsink Observatory.

Viscount Edmond Pery, speaker of the House of Commons, born

Edmund Sexton Pery, 1st Viscount Pery (8 April 1719 – 24 February 1806; middle name also spelt Sexten) was an Anglo-Irish politician who served as Speaker of the Irish House of Commons between 1771 and 1785.