Sir John Thomas Gilbert was a historian and antiquary. Gilbert  spent much of his childhood at Branackstown, Co. Meath. As a child, on family holidays at his uncle’s house in Brannockstown, Co. Meath, he was introduced to the subject which would form his life’s work. According to the biography by his widow the young Gilbert had the use of the extensive library of Fr Murray, a relative of his maternal grandmother’s, who was educated for the priesthood on the continent. He became very interested in history and his first work was on the historical literature of Ireland. He published a History of the City of Dublin and History of the Viceroys of Ireland.