1845 in Ireland

Events

• Devon Commission reports to the British government on the poor living conditions of the Irish population: "in many districts their only food is the potato".^[1]
• August–September – Previously unknown Potato blight strikes the potato crop: start of the Irish Potato Famine.^[1][2]
• Construction begins of the "Leviathan of Parsonstown", a telescope built by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse.
• Work completed on the building of Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast.

Births

• 23 March – John T. Browne, Mayor of Houston, Texas (d.1941).
• 6 April – Edward Hardman, geologist (d.1887).
• 10 June – David Dickson Rogers, politician in Ontario (d.1915).
• 17 June – Emily Lawless, writer (d.1913).
• 1 July – James M. Bell, United States Army soldier, awarded the Medal of Honor in 1876 during the Indian Wars (d.1901).
• 4 July – Thomas John Barnardo, philanthropist (d.1905).

Full date unknown

• James Carey, Fenian and informer (d.1883).
• Eglantyne Louisa Jebb, social reformer (d.1925).
• John Pinkerton, Irish Parliamentary Party MP (d.1908).

Deaths

• 22 February – William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington, politician (b.1763).
• 28 April – James Graham, soldier, commended for his gallantry during the Battle of Waterloo (b.1791).
• 13 July – Johnston Drummond, early settler of Western Australia, botanical and zoological collector (b.1820).
• 16 September – Thomas Osborne Davis, lawyer and writer, author of the song "A Nation Once Again" (b.1814).
• 17 December – Armar Lowry-Corry, 3rd Earl Belmore, politician and High Sheriff (b.1801).

References