J. F. Campbell Collection > Transactions of the Ossianic Society > Volume 4

WILLIAM ELLIOTT HUDSON.
William Elliott Hudson, the subject of this short sketch, the
second sou of Edward Hudson, a celebrated dentist of Dublin, was
born at his father's country residence, Fields of Odin (now Hermi-
tage), near Rathfarnham, in the county of Dublin, August 18th, 1796.
He early displayed those fine qualities which afterwards caused him
to be so much courted in society when arrived at man's estate. His
superior talents, together with his natural thirst for knowledge, urged
him forward, both during his school and collegiate com-ses, so that
each year he distinguished himself by obtaining either premiums or
certificates for superior answering. Aft^r he was called to the bar
in 1818, he went the Munster Circuit, and his abilities, far beyond
the ordinary, soon attracted attention, and brought him in brief after
brief, so long as he continued to practice as a ch-cuit barrister. So
much was he admired in Cork, that such men as the late Recorder
Waggett, Rev. Mr. Leslie, Dean Burrowes and others, were accus-
tomed to watch the coaches, when expecting his aiTÍval for the
assizes in that city ; each endeavouring to anticipate the other in
having as theii- guest, even for a short period, one, whose talents
they admii-ed, and whose pleasing and instructive conversation,
they so highly appreciated, proceeding as it did from an intellect,
well stored with the varied knowledge, which a widely-extended
course of reading had supplied to a mind admirably fitted for its recep-
tion. In the year 1836, he was appointed Assistant Barrister for the
county of Cariow, which post he did not loug continue to fill, having