This week's famous Irishman is Edmund Burke. Edmund Burke (12 January 1729 – 9 July 1797) was an Anglo-Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher who, after relocating to Great Britain, served for many years in the British House of Commons as a member of the Whig party. He is mainly remembered for his support of the American colonies in the dispute with King George III and Britain, which led to the American Revolution, and for his strong opposition to the French Revolution.
This week's famous Irishman is Sir William Rowan Hamilton. Sir William Rowan Hamilton (4 August 1805 – 2 September 1865) was an Irish mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who made important contributions to the development of optics, dynamics, and algebra. His discovery of quaternions is perhaps his best known investigation. Hamilton's work was also significant in the later development of quantum mechanics.
This week's famous Irishman is William Dargan. William Dargan (1799-1867) an engineer, often seen as the father of Irish railways came from County Laois, Ireland. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire (then Kingstown) in 1833. He constructed over 800 miles of railway to important urban centres of Ireland. He was a member of the Royal Dublin Society and also helped establish the National Gallery of Ireland.
This week's famous Irishman is Charles Bianconi. Charles Bianconi (1786-1875) became famous for his innovations in transport and was twice mayor of Clonmel, in County Tipperary. He was the founder of public transportation in Ireland, at a time preceding railways. He established regular horse-drawn carriage services on various routes from about 1815 onwards. These were known as 'Bianconi coaches'. There were also a series of inns, the Bianconi Inns, some of which still exist e.g. in Piltown, County Kilkenny and Killorglin.
James Armour (1841-1928) [‘Armour of Ballymoney’]was a Presbyterian minister and nationalist; his speech on self-government with full protection for Presbyterian Church at the Assembly in March 1893 met by jeers; gained support of 3,535 Presbyterians for Home Rule as a memorial to Gladstone; also supported Tenant Right movement and condemned landlordism.
