Author: Hincks, Edward
Biography:
HINCKS, Edward (1792-1866: DIB)
He was born at Princess Street, Cork, the eldest of eight children of Thomas Dix Hincks, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife Anne Boult. He was educated at Midleton College, Cork, before matriculating at Trinity College Dublin in 1807. He was made a scholar in 1810 and won the university’s gold medal when he earned his BA in 1812. He was elected as a junior fellow in 1813 and ordained in 1817; he later earned his BD (1823) and DD (1829). Through his work as the assistant librarian at Trinity he developed an interest in the Egyptian manuscripts. In 1819 he became rector at Ardtrea, Co. Armagh, and in 1825 he moved to become rector at Killyleagh, Co. Down; he remained there for the rest of his life. In 1823 he had married Jane Dorothea Boyd; they had four daughters. His original and analytical work on ancient near-Eastern subjects made his name, and he is credited with several important discoveries in deciphering Mesopotamian cuneiform. He died suddenly at home in the Killyleagh rectory and was buried in the parish cemetery. Two of his brothers emigrated to Canada and one, William, became the first professor of natural history at University College, Toronto. (DIB 15 Mar. 2021; ODNB 15 Mar. 2021)