Alexander Dawson of Riverstown, Co Louth. The family originally came from Yorkshire and were based in Monaghan. His father John Dawson was brought to Dublin at an early age (under the auspices of prominent banker and Alderman Richard Dawson of Dawson’s Grove, ancestor of Lord Cremorne) and started business on Castle Street in 1760. Three years later John married Miss Pepper of Cook’s Town, Co Louth, by which he secured her estate. In 1792, John purchased Riverstown from the Earl of Carrick. He died in 1801 leaving considerable estates in Co Louth to his two sons, Alexander and James. Alexander was born in Castle Street, Dublin, in 1770 and educated for some time at the school of the Rev Mr Miller. He subsequently entered the University of Dublin where, during his college course and particularly in the fourth year of it, he obtained premiums, certificates and many other academic honours. In the last year of the course, he was admitted a member of the celebrated Historical Society of Trinity College, and obtained a silver medal for superior answering in history.
