GONNE, Henry (1811?-1884) — Dublin
Engraver & lithographer; stationer. Produced Capel Fothergill Adey, A route map of Ireland ca.1850; engraved Dublin and its environs for ‘Whammond’s Exhibition guide through Dublin’ 1853.
Born Henry Thomas Gonne about 1811, the son and successor of George Gonne (see BME 2011). He was working with his father until his father’s death in 1839, and independently from the same address thereafter. Married Anne Warren Cornish (1812-1884) of Devon, who taught drawing in Dublin and with whom he had at least two children, at St. John’s, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, 7 Nov 1839. He announced in 1846 that he “lithographs or engraves every description of map for railways or estates. Henry Gonne being a practical man, with qualified assistants, and having his printing offices on the premises under his immediate personal superintendence, is enabled to execute all orders with which he may be favoured with accuracy and dispatch”, advertising at the same time for an apprentice (Saunders’s News-Letter, 25 Sep 1846). His wife added the modelling of wax flowers to her drawing and painting lessons in 1848. In 1850, Gonne was serving as Honorary Secretary of the Dublin Mechanics’ Institute in 1850, advertising for lecturers on literary, scientific and philosophical subjects (Freeman’s Journal, 24 May 1850). Now advertising in addition as a plain and fancy stationer, Gonne offered “rentals, or rental maps … maps enlarged or reduced, and drawn on conveyances … all the forms of the Incumbered Estates Court kept in stock” (Advocate, 6 Oct 1852). He exhibited at the National Exhibition in 1853, offering to print work on the premises, as well as producing “an Exhibition and Dublin Guide. Illustrated with views of the public buildings engraved in the best style on copper and steel, with a new map of the city and suburbs” (Saunders’s News-Letter, 21 Mar 1853). In 1857 he was offering “a great variety of new French perfumed Valentines” (Saunders’s News-Letter, 10 Feb 1857). Gonne appears to have retired to Dalkey by 1870, where he became the first town clerk. His two houses there (Hanna Mount and Sorrento Villa) were apparently built for him. He died 1 Jun 1884 and was buried at Deansgrange Cemetery 5 Jun 1884 aged seventy-three. His wife died two days later. His effects were declared at £102.13s.6d when letters of administration were granted to a son in England 3 Jul 1884. His widow’s effects were stated at £227.14s.9d.
7 Marlborough Street, Dublin — 1839-1840
14 D’Olier Street, Dublin — 1841-1844
11 D’Olier Street, Dublin — 1845-1851
26 Clare Street, Dublin — 1852-1866
12 Nassau Street, Dublin — 1867-1869
— Hanna Mount, Vico Road, Dalkey (home) — 1867-1884
Bonar Law. Bonar Law (2005). BNA.