Richard MacDonnell (scholar) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Reverend Dr
Richard MacDonnell
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| 29th Provost of Trinity College Dublin | |
| In office 1851–1867 |
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| Preceded by | Franc Sadleir |
| Succeeded by | Humphrey Lloyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 June 1787 High Park, County Cork |
| Died | 24 January 1867 (aged 79) Provost's House, Dublin |
| Spouse | Jane Graves |
| Children | Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell Major-General Arthur Robert MacDonnell |
Richard MacDonnell (1787–1867) was an important Irish church leader and academic. He became the 29th Provost of Trinity College Dublin. This was a very high position at the famous university. He also planned the building of Sorrento Terrace in Dalkey, which is now known as the longest row of houses in Ireland.
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Who Was Richard MacDonnell?
Richard MacDonnell came from a family in Leinster, Ireland. His father, Robert MacDonnell, had a good job in Cork. Richard's mother was Susanna Nugent. Even though his father faced some tough times later in life, the family had a strong background.
Richard MacDonnell's Time at Trinity College Dublin
Richard MacDonnell studied at Trinity College Dublin from 1800 to 1805. He was a very bright student. In 1803, he became a scholar. In 1808, he was chosen as a Fellow. This allowed him to work as a lawyer.
Becoming a Church Leader and Professor
In 1813, Richard earned his LL.D. degree. But he decided to stop being a lawyer and became a priest instead. He spent the rest of his career at Trinity College. He was a Senior Fellow from 1836 to 1852. He also taught Oratory (public speaking) from 1816 to 1852.
He was also the Bursar, which meant he managed the college's money. He did a great job, making sure all the accounts were in order.
Leading Trinity College
In 1852, Richard MacDonnell was chosen to be the 29th Provost of Trinity College Dublin. This was a big honor! He moved into the Provost's House. He led the college for 15 years until he passed away in 1867.
From 1820 to 1827, he also taught mathematics as the Donegall Lecturer in Mathematics.
Making Changes at Trinity
Richard MacDonnell believed in Catholic Emancipation. This meant he supported giving more rights to Catholics in Ireland. This idea was not popular at Trinity College at the time. But he was brave and stood by his beliefs.
He made many important changes to the college's rules and laws. These changes helped Trinity College become even better and more useful. One person said he was "clever but very lazy," but he certainly made a big impact!
A Sense of Humor
Richard MacDonnell was known for his "excellent dry sense of humor." Here are two fun stories about him:
- Once, he was showing a lady around the amazing Trinity College Library, Dublin. She asked, "Oh Mr. Provost, have you read all these books?" He calmly replied, "in time my dear lady, in time."
- Another time, during a dinner party, his butler would quietly put a sugar cube on his bald head. Then, his pet parrot would fly down and sit on his head to eat the sugar cube! Richard MacDonnell would just keep talking seriously to his guests, acting as if nothing unusual was happening.
Sorrento Terrace: A Special Place
Richard MacDonnell owned a house called Knocklyon House near Dalkey. After his mother passed away there, he rented it out. In 1837, he bought land by the sea in Dalkey. He built a new country home there called Sorrento Cottage. Today, this cottage is owned by The Edge from the famous Irish band U2.
He named the area after Sorrento in Italy, which is known for its beautiful views. Sorrento Terrace has amazing views across Killiney Bay to the Wicklow Mountains. The Great Sugar Loaf mountain looks a bit like Mount Vesuvius in Italy.
Building the "Millionaire's Row"
In the early 1840s, Richard MacDonnell planned to build 22 houses near his cottage. This was a huge project! But it was stopped almost right away because of the Great Famine. His family chose to help people suffering from the famine instead of focusing on their building project.
In 1845, his family built the first and largest house, called 'Sorrento House'. Then, Richard leased the rest of the land to his son, Hercules Henry Graves MacDonnell. From the 1850s, his son built the other houses. Each house cost about £1,000. The family made sure that every house followed the exact design of the architects Frederick Darley and Nathaniel Montgomery.
Today, these houses are known as 'millionaire's row'. They are famous for being the most expensive row of houses in Ireland.
Richard MacDonnell's Family Life
In 1810, Richard MacDonnell married Jane Graves. They had fourteen children together! Two of their most well-known children were Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell and Major-General Arthur Robert MacDonnell. He also had several nieces and nephews, including Francis Brinkley and Richard Charles Mayne. He was also the guardian of Edmund Allen Meredith, who later became the head of McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
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Richard MacDonnell
