Local statesmen have been left out

A NUMBER of prominent Londonderry ex-pats who made it big in the United States of America (USA) have been sadly omitted from a new compendium of Irish notables down the ages, bemoans Culture Minister Nelson McCausland.

US senators, congressmen and members of the judiciary are amongst those left out of the Dictionary of Irish Biography, a collaborative project between Cambridge University Press and the Royal Irish Academy.

Mr McCausland highlighted the absence of four Londonderry men and others from Limavady and Omagh as people deserving of inclusion in future editions.

Omissions

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In his personal blog Nelson's View - The Minister's Pen, he stated: "Here are some more Ulster-born omissions from the Dictionary of Irish Biography."

He goes on to list: "Patrick Beard (1769-1831) - member of Indiana state senate, born in Londonderry

"Henry Boyce (1897-1873) - judge and member of the Louisiana state house of representatives, born in Londonderry

"David Baird (1839-1927) - businessman, banker and United States senator from New Jersey, born in Londonderry

US representative

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"John McClure Wiley (1846-1912) - United States representative from New York, US consul in Bordeaux, born in Londonderry

"Henry Osborne (1751-1800) - delegate to the Continental congress from Georgia and justice of the Georgia supreme court, born in Limavady

"William McCreery (1786-1841) - member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives and the United States Congress, born in Omagh."

Other notables from throughout Ulster are also mentioned by the Minister who has pointed out a number of gaps in the new dictionary.

The Minister has pointed out that the dictionary is "a very useful and substantial resource but in relation to Ulster there are many signifciant omissions."

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