Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/O'Conor, Matthew

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1425276Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 41 — O'Conor, Matthew1895Thomas Seccombe (1866-1923)

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:

  1. ‘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.]
  2. ‘Picturesque and Historical Recollections during a Tour through Belgium, Germany, France, and Switzerland during the summer vacation of 1835,’ Dublin, 1837, 8vo.
  3. ‘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 leading. But the work is based upon genuine research, and was a valuable contribution to military history, though now almost completely superseded by the ‘Irish Brigades in the Service of France’ (1851) of John Cornelius O'Callaghan [q. v.]

[The O'Conor Don's History of the O'Conors, and other authorities cited under O'Conor, Charles (1764–1828); Burke's Landed Gentry, ii. 1513; Dublin Univ. Mag. xxv. 593–608; Gent. Mag. 1845, ii. 271; Webb's Compendium of Irish Biogr. p. 387; O'Conor's Works.]

T. S.