Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/437

 MOLYNEUX. 433 in 1742, he was entirely neglected, as well as his fellow labourer Amherst, who conducted “The Craftsman.” Mr. Molloy, however, having married a lady of fortune, was in circumstances which enabled him to treat the ingrati tude of his patriotic friends with the contempt it deserved. He lived many years after this period, and died July 16th, 1767. He was buried at Edmonton, 20th July. He wrote three dramatic pieces, 1. “ Perplexed Couple,” 1715, 12mo.;-2. “The Coquet,” 1718, 8vo.;-8. “Half pay Officers,” 1720, 12mo. none of which met with any very extraordinary success. - WILLIAM MOLYNEUX, An eminent patriot, mathematician and astronomer, was born April 17th, 1656, at Dublin, where his father, a gen tleman of good family and fortune, lived". Being of a tender constitution, he was educated under a private tutor at home, till he was near fifteen, and then placed in the university of Dublin, under the care of Dr. Palliser, afterwards Archbishop of Cashel. He distinguished himself here by the probity of his manners, as well as by the acuteness of his genius, and having made a remarkable progress in academical learn ing, and particularly in the new philosophy, as it was then called, he proceeded at the regular time to his degree of bachelor of arts. After four years spent in this university, he came to London, and was admitted into the Middle Temple in June 1675. He staid there three years, and applied himself to the study of the laws of his country; but the bent of his genius, as well as inclination, a l l lovers o f learning. His father, Samuel, had a n office i n the Court o f Exchequer, was master gunner o f Ireland, and published “Practical Problems, concerning the Doctrine o f Projects designed for Great Artillery and Mortar Pieces.” He died about two years before his son, i n 1696. His grandfather, David, was Ulster king a t arms, whom Sir James Ware calls, “tenerandae antiquitatis cultor.” He finished “Meredith Hanmer's Chronicle o f Ireland;" but, for particular reasons, the second part only was published. WOL. i . i . F . F.
 * His family were