John D'Alton (historian) facts for kids
John D'Alton (1792–1867) was an important Irish figure. He was a lawyer, a historian, a biographer (someone who writes about people's lives), and a genealogist (someone who studies family histories). He spent his life learning and writing about Ireland's past.
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John D'Alton's Life Story
John D'Alton was born on June 20, 1792, in County Westmeath, Ireland. His family lived in a large house called Bessville. When he was young, he went to school in Dublin. At just 14 years old, in 1806, he passed the entry exam for Trinity College Dublin. He officially became a student there in 1808.
While at college, John joined the College Historical Society. He even won an award for his poetry! After finishing his studies, he decided to become a lawyer. In 1811, he started studying law in London and Dublin. By 1813, he was ready to work as a lawyer in Ireland.
John mostly worked on legal cases from his office. He also traveled to the Connaught region for court cases. He married a woman from that area, Miss Phillips. He helped with many important family legal issues. John did not hold many official jobs. However, he did receive a small payment from the government. This was called a civil list pension and was given to him by the prime minister, Lord John Russell. It was a way to recognize his work.
In his later years, John D'Alton's health made it hard for him to leave his home. But he still welcomed visitors and worked on writing his own life story. He passed away on January 20, 1867.
John D'Alton's Writings
John D'Alton loved to write, especially about Irish history. His very first book was a long poem called Dermid, or the Days of Brian Boru. It told a story in rhyme.
Awards for His Historical Work
In 1827, the Royal Irish Academy offered a special prize. They wanted the best essay about the Irish people up to the 12th century. John D'Alton won this top prize, which included money and a gold medal! His essay was very detailed and important. He also won another prize in 1831. This was for his writing about the time when Henry II of England ruled in Ireland.
Books About Irish Places
John D'Alton also wrote for a magazine called the Irish Penny Journal. He wrote about the history of different places in Ireland. He collected information on ancient stones, old forts, and castles. He studied buildings from different time periods. These included castles from the Plantagenet family and houses from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He also wrote about ruins of old abbeys. An artist named Samuel Lover drew pictures for these articles.
In 1838, John published two important books:
- Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin
- History of the County of Dublin
His next book was The History of Drogheda and its Environs. This book also included information about the Dublin and Drogheda Railway. He then wrote the Annals of Boyle. A wealthy person, Robert King, 1st Viscount Lorton, even helped pay for this book to be published.
Family History and Other Works
In 1855, John D'Alton published a very special book. It was called King James II's Irish Army List, 1689. This book listed the names of many important Irish families. It also shared their family histories. He later made this book even bigger, splitting it into separate books for cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and infantry (soldiers on foot). These books helped people trace their family trees up to the time they were published.
He also wrote a legal book about the "Law of Tithes." This was about an old system of taxes paid to the church. Towards the end of his life, in 1864, John D'Alton started writing a History of Dundalk. Another writer, James Roderick O'Flanagan, finished this book after John passed away.
