George Benn facts for kids

George Benn (born January 1, 1801 – died January 8, 1882) was an important Irish historian. He is best known for writing about the city of Belfast.

Early Life and Education

George Benn was born on January 1, 1801. His birthplace was Tanderagee in County Armagh, Ireland. His family had a history of engineering and business. His grandfather, John Benn, came from Cumberland around 1760. He worked as an engineer for the Newry canal.

George's father, also named John Benn, owned a brewery in Belfast. George was the fourth of his sons. He went to the Belfast Academy for his early schooling. Later, he studied under Sheridan Knowles, an English teacher.

In 1816, George joined the Belfast Academical Institution. He was one of the first students there. He was very bright and won gold medals. He earned one for logic in 1817 and another for moral philosophy in 1818.

A Young Historian

George Benn showed his talent for writing early on. In 1819, he won a special prize. The prize was for the "best account of a parish." George wrote about the parish of Belfast. This essay was very well-researched and written.

His work caught the eye of James M'Knight, a newspaper editor. M'Knight was the editor of the Belfast News-Letter. He offered to print George's essay. It was published in 1823, when George was only 22. The book included maps and engravings.

Even though he was young, his book was full of great research. It showed his interest in history and old things. It also showed his understanding of the economy and beautiful places. This early work was very important.

Business and Discoveries

George Benn and his brother Edward (1798-1874) worked together. They first started a business near Downpatrick. Later, they bought an estate in Glenravel, near Ballymena. This area was not developed much.

The brothers worked hard to improve their land. They planted trees on the hillsides. They also ploughed the wild moors. They built good houses and gathered a large library. They even tried to make a new product. They experimented with making potato spirit.

However, government rules made this difficult. The experiment was also costly. They lost money because of potato disease. So, the brothers moved to Liverpool for a few years. They worked in a business there.

After returning to Glenravel, they made an amazing discovery. They found rich iron ore in the Glenravel hills. The first iron was melted in 1851. This discovery led to a new industry in Ulster. It became very important for the region's economy.

Writing the History of Belfast

While George was busy with business, his brother Edward wrote articles. Edward wrote about old things for different journals. He also collected many ancient artifacts. These are now part of the Belfast Museum.

People wanted George to write a full history of Belfast. He first suggested someone else for the job. That person, William Pinkerton, started collecting materials. But he passed away in 1871 before he could begin writing.

Pinkerton's notes were given to George Benn. But George found them hard to use. So, he decided to write the history himself. He stated that the book was "all my own work from beginning to end."

After Edward's death in 1874, George moved back to Belfast. He published A History of the Town of Belfast in 1877. A second volume came out in 1880. George's eyesight was failing as he wrote the second book. He passed away on January 8, 1882. He is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

Family and Charity

George and Edward Benn were part of a non-subscribing Presbyterian group. This group is also known as Unitarian. They were known for being very kind and generous. They helped many people, not just those in their own group.

Edward was the founder of three hospitals in Belfast. George also gave money to these hospitals. They were the "Eye, Ear, and Throat" hospital, the "Samaritan" hospital, and the "Skin Diseases" hospital. They also gave a lot of money to schools.

Neither brother ever married. They had four sisters.

Works

• The History of the Town of Belfast, with an Accurate Account of its Former and Present State, to which are added a Statistical Survey of the Parish of Belfast and a Description of some remarkable Antiquities in its Neighbourhood, 1823.
• A History of the Town of Belfast from the Earliest Times to the close of the Eighteenth Century, 1877.
• A History of the Town of Belfast from 1799 till 1810, together with some Incidental Notices on Local Topics and Biographies of many well-known Families.