The text of the ‘Annals’ published by O'Conor, together with explanatory notes and a Latin translation, was for the time a useful addition to the materials for the study of Irish history. Sir Francis Palgrave, in his ‘Rise of the English Commonwealth,’ described the work as without a parallel in modern literature, ‘whether we consider the learning of O'Conor, the value of the materials, or the princely munificence of the Duke of Buckingham.’ But, by the unanimous opinion of experts since the date of publication, O'Conor has been pronounced incompetent for the task he undertook. The third volume of the ‘Scriptores’ contains a portion of the ‘Annals of the Four Masters;’ but, according to John O'Donovan, the subsequent editor, O'Conor's text is full of errors. It is printed in the italic character, and the contractions of the manuscript, which in many places O'Conor evidently misunderstood, are allowed to remain. The other texts are equally defective, and, indeed, the errors are so grave that it is impossible for an historian to rely on any passage in ‘Tighearnach’ without examining the original manuscript. O'Conor's ignorance of Irish grammar, literature, and topography also led him into many serious blunders in the Latin translation.
O'Conor contributed ‘Critical Remarks’ prefixed to the Rev. J. Bosworth's ‘Elements of Anglo-Saxon,’ and edited ‘Ortelius Improved, or a New Map of Ireland,’ of which, after a few copies were struck off, the plate was destroyed. The writer in Allibone's ‘Dictionary of English Literature’ is, however, in error in attributing to him ‘The Chronicles of Eri,’ a forgery which owed its origin to Roger O'Connor [q. v.] O'Conor's mind began to fail before the last volume of his ‘Scriptores’ was published, and he suffered from the hallucination that he was being deliberately starved. He had to leave Stowe on 4 July 1827, and he was temporarily confined in Dr. Harty's asylum at Finglas, where Dr. Lanigan [q. v.] was also an inmate. He ultimately died in his ancestral home at Belanagare, on 29 July 1828, and was buried in the family burial-place at Ballintober.
O'Conor was a man of mild and timid disposition, liked by every one who knew him, and possessing extensive historical and ‘bookish’ information. In appearance he was short and slight, of sallow complexion, with prominent but distinguished-looking features, giving him as age advanced a most venerable appearance. His manners were a curious compound of Irish and Italian. He was locally known as ‘the Abbé,’ and was for many years daily to be seen between Stowe and Buckingham, with his book and gold-headed cane, reading as he walked. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Dibdin testify, among others, to his amiability and erudition; but the latter quality has been much discredited by the glaring defects of his edition of the ‘Irish Chronicles.’
[The notices of O'Conor in the Gentleman's Magazine (1828, ii. 466–7), in Webb's Compendium of Irish Biography, and in Allibone's Dictionary of English Literature are supplemented by the O'Conor Don's O'Conors of Connaught, 1891, p. 319. See also Irish Magazine, March 1811; O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees, 1887, i. 637; Quarterly Review, July 1856; Dibdin's Bibl. Decameron, iii. 401, and Library Companion, pp. 254, 259; Fitzpatrick's Irish Wits and Worthies, pp. 292–4; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. 1717; Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. xi. 59.]
O'CONOR, MATTHEW (1773–1844), Irish historical writer, the sixth son of Denis O'Conor of Belanagare, by Catherine, daughter of Martin Browne of Clonfad, was born in co. Roscommon on 18 Sept. 1773. Like his brother, Charles O'Conor (1764–1828) [q. v.], he was intended for the priesthood, and studied in the English College at Rome; but he eventually adopted the legal profession, supplementing his practice at the bar by studying and writing upon subjects in connection with Irish history. He died at Mount Druid, co. Roscommon, on 8 May 1844. By his wife Priscilla Forbes, whom he married in 1804, he left issue Denis (1808–1872), of Mount Druid, who was sheriff of his county in 1836; Arthur (d. 1870), of the Palace, Elphin; Matthew, of Mount Allen; and two daughters.
O'Conor was author of:
- ‘The History of the Irish Catholics from the Settlement in 1691, with a View of the State of Ireland from the Invasion of Henry II to the Revolution,’ Dublin, 1813, 8vo. This work, which is ill-digested and uncompromising in tone, was based upon some valuable documents in the possession of the writer's grandfather, Charles O'Conor (1710–1791) [q. v.]
- ‘Picturesque and Historical Recollections during a Tour through Belgium, Germany, France, and Switzerland during the summer vacation of 1835,’ Dublin, 1837, 8vo.
- ‘Military History of the Irish Nation; comprising Memoirs of the Irish Brigade in the Service of France, with an Appendix of Official Papers relative to the Brigade from the Archives at Paris,’ Dublin, 1845, 8vo. A posthumous publication, this was part only of a larger work contemplated by the author. It only goes down to 1738, and had not the advantage of the author's revision. The references are, in consequence, frequently mis-
