Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morrison, Richard (1767-1849)
MORRISON, Sir RICHARD (1767–1849), architect, born in 1767, was son of John Morrison of Middleton, co. Cork, an architect of scientific attainments. Originally intended for the church, he was eventually placed as pupil with James Gandon [q. v.] the architect, in Dublin. He obtained through his godfather, the Earl of Shannon, a post in the ordnance department at Dublin; but this he abandoned, when he entered into full practice as an architect. Having resided for some time at Clonmel, he removed about 1800 to Dublin and settled at Bray. Morrison had very extensive public and private practice in Ireland. Among his public works were alterations to the cathedral at Cashel, the court-house and gaol at Galway, court-houses at Carlow, Clonmel, Roscommon, Wexford, and elsewhere, and the Roman catholic cathedral at Dublin. He built or altered very many mansions of the nobility and gentry in Ireland, and was knighted by the lord-lieutenant, Earl de Grey, in 1841. He died at Bray on 31 Oct. 1849, and was buried in the Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin. He was president of the Institute of Architects of Ireland. In 1793 he published a volume of ‘Designs.’
Morrison, William Vitruvius (1794–1838), architect, son of the above, was born at Clonmel on 22 April 1794. In 1821 he made an extensive tour on the continent, and on his return assisted his father in many of his works. He also had a large public and private practice in Ireland. His health, however, broke down, and after a second visit to the continent he died in his father's house at Bray on 16 Oct. 1838, and was buried in the Mount Jerome cemetery. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy.
[Papworth's Dict. of Architecture; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Annual Register, 1849; English Cyclopædia; Webb's Compendium of Irish Biog. p. 352.]