Author: Semple, Anthony
Biography:
SEMPLE, Anthony (1771-1834: Limerick Chronicle)
He was probably born in Gloucester Street, Dublin, and baptised at St. Thomas on 28 November 1771, the son of John Semple, bricklayer, builder, and overseer of works, and his wife Lydia (maiden name unknown). He appears to have followed his father into building and was listed as a bricklayer alongside his brother John in a 1792 list of Freemen in Dublin. He was in the service of the East India Company, in an unknown capacity, for an unknown period before 1815. On his return to Ireland he became a member of the Royal Irish Academy and stayed some time at Malone House, Belfast, the seat of William Legg to whom he dedicated The Voyage, and Other Poems (1815). At an unknown date but probably also around 1815, he married Legg’s sister Marcella Legg[e] (1756-1843), the daughter of Alexander Legge (1706-77), High Sheriff of County Antrim. There was no issue. They moved to Malahide near in Dublin where he became Seneschal, Magistrate, and Commissioner of the Board of Health. He died on 1 Mar. 1834 aged 63, and was buried in Malahide churchyard. After his death, Marcella sold their house and small estate and moved to Cheltenham, Gloucester, where she had family. She died there on 7 Dec. 1843 at The Aviary, Wellington Square, and was buried at Holy Trinity. (Raymond Refausse, The Register of the Parish of St. Thomas, Dublin [1994], 54; DIB, John Semple 1801-82; Saunder’s News-Letter 29 June 1815; Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead, Ireland, 1907, 7: 577; Limerick Chronicle 5 Mar. 1834; Cheltenham Looker-On 16 Dec. 1843) AA