Hingertys at Leuven University, Belgium

 Hingertys at Leuven University, Belgium



In the European Summer of 2005, my husband and I received scholarships to attend a Summer School at the Catholic University of Leuven. It was a wonderful experience which we will never forget.

Little did we know, however, that I was not the first Hingerty to attend this university.....

Today, while trawling through journal articles looking for references to Hingerdill, I found that Leuven University had hosted two previous Hingerty students in the years from 1760 to 1782!

According to Jeroen Nilis Irish Students at Leuven University 1548-1797 Irish students started attending Leuven University from 1548 onwards. Many were studying theology, with some studying medicine and a few studying law. 

Latin was a pre requisite.  Some students attended pre university courses to prepare them for entrance to the formal university degree courses if they had not been able to attain the pre requisites prior to admission. Once accepted into the university, the students first undertook a course in the humanities for 4 to 6 years, followed by two years of philosophy and the sciences. They then took a 'final' exam and hopefully moved on to their specialist courses of theology, medicine or law. 

Many students attended per favour of scholarships, some of which were offered by staff members such as Thomas Stapleton from Fethard, Tipperary who was president of one of the Irish colleges.

In 1760 Edward/Edmund Harrington from the city (or Diocese?) of Cashel began his studies under a Stapleton scholarship. Being related to Thomas Stapleton may have assisted his application! He went on to become an MD in 1768.



In 1768 Edward's brother, Timothy Harrington/Hingerdill began his studies. He was granted a Stapleton Scholarship in 1777 and became an MD in 1782.


According to Nilis, once they graduated, students did not always return to Ireland. Many stayed on to enjoy successful careers in Catholic areas of Europe. 

I wonder if Edward and Thomas returned home to Tipperary or if they practiced medicine in Europe. 

Their entries both list Reims beside the initials MD- does this indicate that they both worked as doctors in this French city?  

Does the "?" after the initials "MD" query the location, the date or if they graduated? We may never know.


UPDATE: 24 Sep 2023

Found in Find My Past, an entry in Betham's Genealogical Abstracts:

An abstract of the will of Edward Harrington, Physician of Cashel, Tipperary. Probate granted 27 Sept 1792.

Is this the Edward who graduated as a doctor in 1768?

Bethams Genealogical Abstracts



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