HAY
Irish brigade in France, was executed ou Wexford bridge in 1798 for complicity in the Insurrection ; whilst another brother, Philip, rose to be a Lieutenant-General in the British service, dying at Lambeth, 8th August 1856, aged 82. In June i860 two daughters of Edward Hay were still living in indigence in DubUn. 331
Hayes, Catherine, a celebrated singer, was born about 1820 in Limerick, where her family were in humble circumstances. Her vocad talents attracted the notice of Dr. Knox, Bishop of Limerick, and through his exertions funds were procured to enable her to study in Dublin with Signor Sapio in 1839. Her success was so marked at concerts given in different parts of Ire- land, that she was enabled to continue her studies at Paris, and afterwards at Milan, where she created a great sensation at La Scala in Linda di Chamounix. Thenceforth her success was assured, and she became for a time almost the leading cantatrice of the day — at least in the United Kingdom. On account of her nationality she was es- pecially popular in Ireland. "Her voice is a clear and beautiful soprano of the sweetest quality in all its ranges ; ascend- ing with perfect ease to D in alt., and in its freshness, mellowness, and purity, giving no token of having at all suffered by the ex- cessive severity of her Italian discipline." "* She made a successful operatic tour round the world, being warmly received in Austra- lia, California, and the Atlantic States of the American Union. In 1857 she married a Mr. Bushnell. Her life thenceforward is believed not to have been a happy one ; ill- health supervened, and she died at Sydenham, near London, nth August 1 86 1 , aged 41. She was described by those who knew her as a woman of great sweet- ness and purity of character, ^s se 116(36) 233
Head, Richard, author of the English Rogue, the Art of Wheedling, the Humour?, of Dublin, comedies, and other pieces, was an Irishman, who after studying at Oxford, became a bookseller in London, and was drowned in 1678, crossing to the Isle of Wight, f^
Helsham, Richard, M.D., an eminent Dublin physician, Professor of Physic and of Natural Philosophy in the University of Dublin in the first half of the 18th cen- tury. He became a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1704, a Senior Fellow in 1 7 14; he resigned in 1730, and was appointed Regius Professor of Physic in 1733. His course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy were much esteemed, and have been more than once reprinted. He was Swift's intimate friend and medical adviser. In a letter of I2th July 1735 Swift writes
HEL
of him as "the most eminent physician of this city and kingdom." He died ist
August 1738. 37 3=1
Hely-Hutchinson, John, an eminent lawyer, and Provost of Trinity College (son of Francis Hely of Gertrough), was born about 17 1 5. On his marriage to an heiress in 1 75 1 he assumed the name of Hutchin- son. A man of commanding abilities, he was called to the Bar in 1748 ; returned to Parliament for Lanesborough in 1759, and for Cork in 1761; appointed Prime-Ser- geant in 1762; Provost of Trinity College in 1774; Secretary of State for Ireland, and Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1777. In 1783 he obtained a peerage for his wife, as Baroness of Donoughmore. He was a noted pluralist, being at one and the same time Secretary of State, Major of Horse, Provost of Trinity College, and Searcher, Packer, and Gauger of the Port of Strangford. Lord Guildford once remarked, "if England and Ireland were given to this man, he would solicit the Isle of Man for a potato garden." His appointment as Provost created some turmoil ; as a layman he was considered unsuitable for the post, and he became in- volved in constant disputes with the Fel- lows and students. Dr. Duigenan wrote a book in opposition to his appointment ; a series of satirical publications appeared against him under the title of Pranceriana; and he was also involved in several duels. Full particulars of these proceedings will be found in the OerdlemarHs Magazine no- ticing his death, which took place at Bux- ton, 4th September 1794; he was aged 79. He wrote an excellent treatise on the Com- metcial Restraints of Ireland. In QrattarCs Life it is stated that he supported nearly every good measure — the Claim of Right, Free Trade, the Catholics, Reform. "As a speaker he was good ; he possessed, per- haps, greater powers of satire than any other man ; it was incomparable ; nothing could be better; it was the finest and severest style, adapted to the highest order of matter, and in its effects it was fatal." He was considered to have sensibly elevated the style of speaking in the House of Com- mons. Mr. Taylor, in his History of the University of Dublin,whil3t admitting that his appointment to the provostship was ill-advised, considers that his government conferred great benefits on the University, and that "he was a man of an enlightened mind and extended views." One of his sons became an earl, another a baron ; and others of his numerous descendants were distinguished in the senate, the Church, and the army. [His eldest son, Richard, created Earl of Donoughmore, was the untiring advocate of Catholic Emanci- 247
