Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/246

 GOR

is thus summed up in Chambers's Encyclo- pcedia: " Goldsmith, was the most natural genius of his time. He did not possess Johnson's mass of intellect, nor Burke's passion and general force, but he wrote the finest poem, the most exquisite novel, and with the exception, perhaps, of the School for Scandal— the most delightful comedy of the period. Blundering, im- pulsive, vain, and extravagant, clumsy in manner, and undignified in presence, he was laughed at and ridiculed by his contemporaries; but with pen in hand, and in the solitude of his chamber, he was a match for any of them, and took the finest and kindliest revenges. Than his style — in which, after all, lay his strength — no- thing covdd be more natural, simple, and graceful. It is full of the most exquisite expressions and the most cunning turns. Whatever he said, he said in the most graceful way. When he wrote nonsense, he wrote it so exquisitely that it is better often than other people's sense. Johnson, who although he laughed at, yet loved and understood him, criticized him admirably in the remark: ' He is now writing a natu- ral history, and will make it as agreeable as a Persian tale.' "Concerning his sistei-s and brothers, Mr. Forster tells us that his sister Catherine married a wealthy husband, and his sister Jane a poor one, and that both died in Athlone some years after Oliver. His brother Henry entered the church, and died in 1768; Maurice became a cabinet-maker at Charlestown, Roscommon, and we are told "departed from a miserable life" in 1792; Charles went to seek his fortune in Jamaica in early man- hood, and died there about 181 5; John died in childhood. It would be fortunate if all biographies were as completely and con- scientiously worked out as John Forster's Life and Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith.

Gordor-, James, Rev., vicar of Bar- ragh and rector of Killegney, the author of several historical works published between 1790 and 1815. Those relatingto Ireland were : History/ of the Rebellion in Ireland in 1798 (Dublin, 1801), and History of Ire- latvi^from the earliest accounts to the Union (Dublin, 1806). Lowndes styles this last " a party work, abounding in misrepresen- tation." The second edition of his Rebellion contains a reply to some observations by Sir Richard Musgrave. '^

Gormlaith, Queen, daughter of Flann Sinna, Monarch of Ireland, was born about 880, She was a very beautiful woman, and was first married to Cormac MacCul- Unan. After his death, she was won by Cearbhall, or Carroll, King of Leinster,

who was slain in the year 909. She then espoused Nial Glimdubh, with whom she lived till he was slain by AmlafiF at Dub- lin, in 919. Gormlaith was then left destitute, and is said even to have been forced to beg from door to door, and died in 946, say the Four Masters, "after in- tense penance for her sins and transgres- sions." Her chequered life has furnished a theme for many poems.

Gotofrid, a Dominican friar, a native of Waterford, was a distinguished classical, French, and Arabic scholar, who flourished in the 13th century. He travelled in the east, and translated several works from Latin, Greek, and Arabic into French.

Gongh, Hugh, Viscount, G.C.B., was born at Woodstown, County of Lime- rick, the seat of his father, 3rd November 1779, and was educated at home. When but thirteen he entered his father's regi- ment, the Limerick militia ; from which he was soon transferred as Lieutenant to the 1 19th Regiment of the line. His mili- tary abilities soon asserted themselves, and he was appointed Adjutant at an unprece- dentedly early age. He served in different regiments at the Cape and in the West Indies. Having obtained his majority in the 87th, he was sent to Spain in 1 809, and held commands at Talavera, Barossa, Vit- toria, Nivelle, Cadiz, and Tarifa receiving a medal and a heraldic augmentation to his armorial bearings. He had a horse shot under him at Talavera, and was severely wounded at Tarifa and Nivelle. His conduct was highly commended by the Duke of Wellington, and he was the first ofiicer who ever received brevet rank for services performed in the field in com- mand of a regiment. At Barossa his troops captured a French eagle, and at Vittoria they secured the baton of Marshal Jourdan. The years between 18 15 and 1837 were spent chiefly at home, fulfilling the duties of a country gentleman on his Tipperary estates, or in command of troops in different pstrts of the country. He was ap- pointed a magistrate of Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary; and we are told that by his gentle and engaging manners he not only conciliated the good- will of the gentry with whom he had to act, but by a system of min- gled firmness and mildness, succeeded, to a great extent, in winning the respect and confidence of the peasantry. Ini83ohebecame Major-General, and seven years afterwards was sent to India and China to take com- mand of a division of the army. He served in the Chinese war, and at its conclusion and the signature of a treaty at Nankin, in August 1842, he was for his services created a G.C.B., a baronetcy was confer-