George Ensor

rdf:langString George Ensor

rdf:langString George Ensor J.P. (17 December 1769 – 3 December 1843) was an eminent Irish author and lawyer. Ensor was born in Ardress, County Armagh and lived in Ardress House, Ireland and educated at the Royal School, Armagh followed by Trinity College Dublin. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1792. He married Esther Weld (sister of famous Irish explorer, author and painter Isaac Weld) on 7 January 1804. His father, George Ensor, and uncle, , were architects who designed much of Merrion Square, Parnell Square, the Rotunda of the Rotunda Hospital, now the Ambassador Theatre (Dublin), the and the - all in Dublin. They originated from Coventry and Wilnecote, England. George (Senior) was the first of the 'Irish' Ensors and John the first of the /New Zealand Ensors. He was a well-known political writer and patriot, author of at least twenty books of educational and Irish interest, and the father-in-law of J. P. Prendergast the historian. He was a friend of Daniel O'Connell, Jeremy Bentham and James Mill. He accompanied John Stuart Mill (aged 14) to France in 1820. He was a grand juror and High Sheriff (1806) of County Armagh. Ensor died on 3 December 1843 at the family home, Ardress House, which is now property of the National Trust.