Michael Joseph Quin facts for kids

Michael Joseph Quin (born 1796, died 1843) was an Irish writer, traveler, and journalist. He is best known for starting the Dublin Review, an important Catholic magazine.

Michael Quin's Early Life and Career

Michael Joseph Quin was born in 1796. He was the third son of Morty Quin, who worked as a distiller. In 1811, even though he was Catholic, he began studying at Trinity College, Dublin.

After college, he moved to London. In 1818, he became a lawyer at Lincoln's Inn. This means he was officially allowed to practice law. While waiting to start his law career, he began working as a journalist.

Writing and Travels

Quin wrote for the Morning Herald newspaper. He shared his experiences from a trip to Spain in 1822 and 1823. These writings were later published as a book.

The next year, he translated two books. One was about Ferdinand VII, a king of Spain. The other was about Don Agustín de Iturbide, a leader from Mexico.

In 1825, Quin became the editor of the Monthly Review. He held this job for seven years. During this time, he wrote many articles about international politics for the Morning Chronicle. He also edited The Catholic Journal, a weekly newspaper that ran for one year.

Quin loved to travel. He visited places like Hungary, Wallachia, Serbia, and Turkey. His travels gave him ideas for a new book in 1835. It was called A Steam Voyage down the Danube. This book was very popular and was even translated into French and German.

Starting the Dublin Review

Michael Quin's most important work was starting the Dublin Review. This magazine became the most important Catholic magazine in the British Isles during his time.

Cardinal Wiseman explained how it began. He said that in 1836, Mr. Quin first thought of starting a Catholic magazine that would come out every three months. Quin asked Daniel O'Connell, a famous Irish leader, and Cardinal Wiseman to join him.

Quin became the first editor and wrote many articles for the magazine. He wrote five articles in the first issue and four in the second. However, the magazine did not make much money. After two issues, he stopped being the editor. He could not spend so much time on it without getting paid. But he continued to write articles for later issues.

In 1842, he also edited The Tablet magazine for a short time.

Personal Life and Death

Michael Quin married the step-daughter of Edward Wallis. Edward Wallis was a publisher from Burton Grange, York. Michael and his wife had three daughters.

Michael Joseph Quin passed away on February 19, 1843. He died from a lung disease. He was buried in the English cemetery in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

Michael Quin's Published Works

Here are some of the books Michael Joseph Quin wrote or translated:

• A Visit to Spain (1823)
• Memoirs of Ferdinand VII, 8 volumes (1824)
• A Statement of some of the principal events in the public life of Don Agustín de Iturbide (1824)
• The Trade of Banking in England (1833)
• A pamphlet on the proposed abolition of local probate courts (1834)
• Journey Through Arabia Petræa to Mount Sinai and the Excavated City of Petra (1836) (translated from French)
• Nourmahal, an Oriental Romance, 2 volumes (1838)
• Steam Voyages on the Seine, the Moselle and the Rhine (1843)