Indies and America — in 1671, 1675, 1683 upon the first occasion in company with George Fox. During the War of 1689-'91 his sufferings, and those of the other Friends in Ireland, were very great. Friends were especially the victims of the depredations of the rapparees, or Irish irregular troops, who were disposed to regard with little favour the occupants, however inoffensive, of the lands once held by their ancestors. William Edmundson made great exertions to relieve the general distress prevalent in Ireland at the time, and his personal appeal to James II. was not without result. His latter days were spent peaceably at Rosenallis, where he died, 31st August 1712, aged 84. He was twice married. His grave may be seen at the Friends' burial-ground, Rosenallis, and his Bible, the companion of so many of his wanderings, is in the possession of his descendants. His Journal, published in Dublin in 1715, is one of the most valuable contributions to the literature of his society. 122
Egan, John, Chairman of Kilmainham, was born, probably about 1750, at Charleville, County of Cork, where his father was a Church clergyman. He entered Trinity College as a sizar, studied law in London, and after his return home married a widow lady of some fortune. In March 1789 he entered Parliament as member for Ballinakill; and from 1790 to the period of the Union, sat for Tullagh. He was a noted duellist. A contemporary account says: "In person he much resembles Fox; in manner he is rough, boisterous, and overbearing." He once fought with his intimate friend, Curran, fortunately without serious consequences. Egan complained of the great advantage his size gave to his adversary: "I'll tell you what, Mr. Egan," said Curran, "I wish to take no advantage of you whatever. Let my size be chalked out on your side, and I am quite content that every shot which hits outside that mark should go for nothing." In after life there were few of his old friends of whom Curran was accustomed to speak with greater affection than of Egan. In 1799 he was appointed Chairman of Kilmainham. His means were by that time reduced, and the post was then almost his only source of income. The office depended upon Government favour, and it was intimated that his support of the Union would lead to further advancement. As the final debate on the question proceeded, it was seen that he was writhing under conflicting emotions; at length he rose, delivered a furious speech against the Union, and sat down exclaiming: "Ireland Ireland forever! and damn Kilmainham!" He died, it is said in poverty, May 1810, aged about 60. A writer in Notes and Queries, 2nd Series, suggests that Egan was the author of a number of letters on political characters of the day, that appeared during his life-time in the Dublin Evening Post, signed " Junius Hibernicus." 87 96 254 291 338
Elliott, Charles, D.D., a Methodist divine, was born at Killybegs, 6th May 1792. He studied in Dublin, emigrated to the United States in 1814, and was received into the travelling connexion of the Ohio Conference in 1818. In 1822 he was Superintendent of the Wyandotte Mission, Upper Sandusky; was subsequently, for five years, Presiding Elder of the Ohio district, and was in 1827-'31 Professor of Languages in Madison College, Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Stationed at Pittsburg in 1831, he was Presiding Elder of that district, and he afterwards edited some religious papers, latterly at Cincinnati, where he remained till 1848. He was the President of the Iowa Wesleyan Union for some years, and was the author of numerous important works, principally connected with the history of Wesleyanism. He died at Mountpleasant, Iowa, 6th January 1869, aged 76. 37*
Elrington, Thomas, Bishop of Ferns, was born near Dublin in December 1760. At the age of fourteen he entered Trinity College, and soon distinguished himself as a mathematician, gaining a fellowship when but twenty years of age. In 1792 he engaged in a controversy arising out of one of Archbishop Troy's pastorals. In 1811 he was appointed Provost, in which capacity he exhibited judgment and firmness in repressing disorders and sustaining the discipline of the College. In 1820 he was consecrated Bishop of Limerick, and two years after was translated to Ferns. He died at Liverpool of paralysis, said to have been induced by sea-sickness, 12th July 1835, aged about 75. He was interred in the College Chapel, Dublin. As a bishop he is said to have been strict in discipline, yet munificent, hospitable, and kind, and beloved by all. His edition of Euclid is well known and much esteemed. He also edited for the use of Trinity College, Dublin, Locke on Government, and an expurgated edition of Juvenalis et Persius. Cotton gives a list of twenty-nine publications from his pen many in defence of the Establishment against the attacks of "J. K. L." and others. He is referred to in Castlereagh's Memoirs under date of February 1799, as seeking for permission to break the rule of celibacy then enjoined
