Edward Hudson

Who was Edward Hudson?

Edward Hudson was born in Castlemartyr, County Cork, Ireland.

Hudson was an eminent dentist, at a time when dentistry was still very much a fledgling practice. Edward created a "Preservative and other Dentifrices" for the bettering of dental hygiene during his time as a Dentist.

Edward Hudson lived and practiced in Grafton Street, Dublin, and latterly lived at The Hermitage in Rathfarnham, Dublin. This grand building on the outskirts of Dublin is now the home of the Pearse Museum, which celebrates the life of Patrick Pearse.

During his time at The Hermitage, Hudson built several ruins along the edge of the grounds, which remain to this day. The ruins were deliberately built as such from new, using rough stone to create the impression that they had existed for many years. These include a small Watchtower, a hermit’s cave, a dolmen and a ruined abbey.

Amongst other vocations, Hudson was a Director of the Grand Canal of Ireland, a scientific experimenter and philosophiser, and a publisher of several anonymous scientific and political treatises.

Hudson was the uncle of Robert Blake, the first State Dentist of Ireland, who was inspired to become a Dentist by his uncle.