Nathaniel Colgan, 1851-1919

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Nathaniel Colgan MRIA was known as a self-taught botanist for his research on the ?real? shamrock and his encyclopaedic survey, The flora of the county Dublin. Little was known of his early life and family and interests beyond botany, marine biology, mountaineering and his day-job. He was called shy, but being reserved about his background is more convincing. When he was 10, he and his siblings were orphaned and brought up in the Coombe, Dublin. Held in high esteem by his peers, he rose to become a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. This study uncovers his hidden past, from the grandfather whose silk-weaving business waned to his espousal of Gaelic culture; a founder of the Feis Cheoil movement, and subject to a secret police report when he promoted a member of the Volunteers as his successor as head clerk in the Dublin police court.