Birmingham, George A. (1865-1950), was the pen name of James Owen Hannay, an Irish novelist and clergyman. He wrote more than 80 books, gaining widespread popularity for his humorous novels, many of them dealing with Irish life. They include Spanish Gold (1908), Lalage’s Lovers (1911), The Adventures of Dr. Whitty (1913), Ships and Sealing Wax (1927), Love or Money (1935), and Laura’s Bishop (1949). He also wrote a play, General John Regan (1913), as well as religious works under his own name.
Birmingham was born on July 16, 1865, in Belfast. He was ordained a clergyman in the Church of Ireland in 1889. He served as rector of Westport in County Mayo from 1892 to 1913. Birmingham settled in England in 1924. He began his literary career with serious novels about modern Irish history and politics. These works include Hyacinth (1906) and The Bad Times (1908). He wrote several autobiographical works, notably Pleasant Places (1934). Birmingham died on Feb. 2, 1950.
