Thomas Prior facts for kids

Thomas Prior (born 1680, died 1751) was an important Irish writer. He is best known for starting the Royal Dublin Society. This group helped improve farming, crafts, and science in Ireland.

A statue of Thomas Prior by John van Nost the younger.

Thomas Prior's Life

Early Life and Education

Thomas Prior was born in a place called Rathdowney in County Laois, Ireland. He went to Kilkenny College from 1697 to 1699. There, he became good friends with George Berkeley, who was also a famous thinker. After Kilkenny, Thomas Prior went to Trinity College Dublin. He earned a scholarship in 1701 and finished his degree in 1703.

Helping Ireland's Economy

In 1729, Thomas Prior wrote a book called 'List of Absentees of Ireland'. In this book, he criticized Irish landlords who lived outside of Ireland. He felt they were not helping their home country enough. This book made him quite well-known.

After this, Prior focused on helping Ireland's economy grow. He worked especially with the Protestant community. In 1731, he teamed up with Samuel Madden and eleven other friends. They started a group called the Dublin Society. Their goal was to promote farming, manufacturing, arts, and sciences. They held their first meeting at Trinity College on June 25, 1731. Other important people involved included Francis Bindon and Patrick Delany.

The society became official and received money from the government in 1749. Many years later, in 1820, it changed its name to the Royal Dublin Society.

Later Life and Legacy

Thomas Prior passed away on October 21, 1751. He was buried in Rathdowney. A special monument was built for him in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. His friend George Berkeley wrote a Latin message for the monument. It called Prior the "founder, institutor, and curator" of the Dublin Society. A picture of him was also published in Dublin in 1752.

Thomas Prior's Writings

Thomas Prior wrote several books and essays. In 1729, his book List of the Absentees of Ireland was published. The next year, he wrote Observations on Coin, which was about money.

He also dedicated a book to Lord Chesterfield in 1746. This book was called An Authentic Narrative of the Success of Tar-water. It talked about how a special remedy called tar-water helped many people. This book included letters from his friend George Berkeley. In 1749, Prior also wrote an essay. It encouraged the growth of the linen industry in Ireland.