John MacEnery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reverend
John MacEnery
F.G.S
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| Born | 27 November 1797 Limerick, Ireland
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| Died | 18 February 1841 Torre Abbey, Torquay
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| Resting place | Torre Churchyard, Torquay |
John MacEnery (1796–1841) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest. He was also one of the first people to study ancient human history, known as an early archaeologist. He is famous for his work in a cave called Kent's Cavern in England.
Contents
Discovering Ancient Life
John MacEnery was born in Limerick, Ireland. He became a priest in 1819. In 1822, he moved to Devon, England, to work at Torre Abbey.
Exploring Kent's Cavern
In 1825, MacEnery began exploring Kent's Cavern. This was a large cave in Devon. He searched for clues about very old times. He continued his studies in the cave in 1826 and 1829.
Amazing Finds
Inside the cave, MacEnery found something incredible. He discovered ancient stone tools. These tools were found right next to the bones of huge, extinct animals. These animals included mammoths.
A Big Idea
MacEnery realized what his findings meant. He believed that early humans and these giant animals lived at the same time. This was a very new and bold idea for his era.
Challenges and Legacy
MacEnery's ideas were hard for many people to accept. Most people at the time believed the Earth was much younger. They thought humans and extinct animals could not have lived together.
Doubts and Delays
Because of these strong beliefs, MacEnery faced pressure. Some people, like the important theologian William Buckland, made him doubt his own discoveries. This led MacEnery to never publish his full work. Others say it was simply too expensive for him to print his findings.
MacEnery stopped his cave research in 1830. He left Torquay. Years later, after his death, his important work finally became known. Edward Vivian published a version of MacEnery's notes in 1859. Then, in 1869, William Pengelly explored and shared MacEnery's original writings. This happened many years after MacEnery passed away at age 43.
Later Life
MacEnery had to retire early from his work. This was due to an accident that affected his health. He spent some time living in Rome and Paris.
He returned to Torre Abbey in 1838. John MacEnery died on February 18, 1841. He is buried in Torre Churchyard in Torquay.
