James Whitelaw facts for kids

James Whitelaw (born 1749, died 1813) was an important Irish person. He was a historian, writer, and a priest. He also worked to help people in need. He is remembered for his efforts to improve life for the poor in Dublin.

James Whitelaw's Life and Work

Early Life and Education

James Whitelaw was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1749. He went to Trinity College Dublin for his education. In 1769, he was chosen as a Scholar, which is a special honor. He finished his studies in 1771 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After college, he became a priest in the Church of Ireland. He served in churches in Dublin, including St. James and St. Catherine's on Thomas Street.

Helping the Community

James Whitelaw cared deeply about people who were struggling. He worked hard to help the poor in Dublin. He even started a school called the Erasmus Smith Free School. This school was located on the Coombe and helped many children get an education. He also set up other places to help people.

Counting Dublin's Population

In 1798, James Whitelaw took on a very big task. He decided to count everyone living in the city of Dublin. This was a difficult job because there was a rebellion happening in Ireland at the time, known as the 1798 Rising. People were also worried about diseases spreading.

But James Whitelaw was not afraid. He personally visited almost every house in Dublin. He talked to nearly every person to find out how many people lived there. Before his work, no one knew exactly how many people lived in Dublin. He found that 182,370 people lived in the city!

He wrote a book about his findings in 1805. It was called Essay on the Population of Dublin in 1798. He collected many detailed facts and figures. Sadly, many of these important records were later lost. They were kept in Dublin Castle but were destroyed during a conflict in 1922.

Other Important Contributions

James Whitelaw continued to serve his community. In 1805, he became part of a group that looked into how Dublin's streets were managed. In 1808, he started the Meath Charitable Loan. This was a group that helped people by giving them small loans.

He also worked on a book about the History of Dublin. He wrote it with John Warburton. Sadly, James Whitelaw passed away before the book was finished. Another writer, Robert Walsh, completed it after his death.

His Final Days

James Whitelaw continued to help the poor right up until the end of his life. He worked near the Cork Street Fever Hospital. While helping people there, he caught a fever himself. He died in 1813. He is remembered for his dedication to helping others and for his important work in understanding Dublin's population.