London and obtained an engagement as a parliamentary reporter on the staff of the 'Morning Chronicle.' In 1809 he accompanied the Walcheren expedition as special correspondent, in order to supply the 'Chronicle' with intelligence, but his bulletins soon induced the government to ship him home in a man-of-war. This he attributed to Lord Castlereagh, whom he libelled accordingly. On 7 Feb. 1811 he was sentenced by the court of queen's bench to eighteen months' imprisonment in Lincoln gaol for a libel charging his lordship with cruelty in Ireland. The talent and courage which he displayed at the trial obtained for him a public subscription of 2,000l. He memorialised the House of Commons on 21 June against the treatment he had experienced in prison, accusing the gaolers of cruelty in placing him with felons, and refusing him air and exercise. The memorial gave rise to several discussions, in which he was highly spoken of by Whitbread, Burdett, Romilly, and Brougham (Hansard, Parl. Debates, 1811, xx. 723-43). He died in Westminster on 11 May 1822, aged 56.
Finnerty was an eccentric Irishman, extremely quick, ready, and hot-headed. Much of his time was spent with Paul Hiffernan [q. v.], Mark Supple, and other boon companions at the Cider Cellars, 20 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. He published : 1. 'Report of the Speeches of Sir Francis Burdett at the late Election,' 1804, 8vo. 2. 'Case of Peter Finnerty, including a Full Report of all the Proceedings which took place in the Court of King's Bench upon the subject . . . with Notes, and a Preface comprehending an Essay upon the Law of Libel,' 4th edit. London, 1811, 8vo.
[Phillips's Curran and his Contemporaries, p. 184; Gent. Mag. vol. xcii. pt. i. p. 644; Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, p. 116; Andrews's British Journalism, ii. 31, 66; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. ix. 306; Grant's Newspaper Press, ii. 224; Hunt's Fourth Estate, ii. 275.]
FINNEY, SAMUEL (1719–1798), miniature-painter, born at Wilmslow, Cheshire, 13 Feb. 1718-19, was eldest son of Samuel Finney of Fulshaw, Cheshire, and Esther, daughter of Ralph Davenport of Chorley. His family being in pecuniary difficulties, Finney came up to London to study law, but quitted that profession for painting. He established himself as a miniature-painter, working both in enamel and on ivory, and was very successful. He exhibited miniatures at the Exhibition of the Society of Artists in 1761, and in 1765 exhibited a miniature of Queen Charlotte, having been appointed 'enamel and miniature painter to her majesty.' He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and in 1766 subscribed the declaration roll of that society. Having amassed a fortune sufficient to pay off the encumbrances on the old family estate, Finney in 1769 retired to Fulshaw, became a justice of the peace, and devoted the remainder of his life to quelling the riots, then so prevalent in that part of Cheshire, and in local improvements. He also compiled a manuscript history of his family, part of which was printed in the 'Cheshire and Lancashire Historical Collector,' vol. i. A small portrait of Finney is in the possession of his descendant, Mr. Jenkins of Fulshaw; it was engraved by William Ford of Manchester, and the plate was destroyed after twelve copies had been struck off. He died in 1798, and was buried at Wilmslow. He was twice married, but left no children.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760-1880; Earwaker's East Cheshire, i. 154.]
FINNIAN, Saint (d. 550), of Cluainiraird, now Clonard, in the county of Meath, son of Finlugh, son of Fintan, a descendant of Conall Cearnach, one of the heroes of the Red Branch, was born in Leinster. He was baptised by a Saint Abban, and afterwards placed when of suitable age under the charge of Fortchern. With him he read 'the Psalms and the Ecclesiastical Order.' On reaching the age of thirty he crossed the sea, and according to the Irish life went to Tours, called by the Irish Torinis. where he became a friend of St. Caeman. But the Latin life, the author of which, according to Dr. Todd, had the Irish before him, substitutes Dairinis, an island in the bay of Wexford, in which there was a well-known monastery. The resemblance in sound may have suggested the correction, as Caeman was connected with Dairinis. But as the 'Office of St. Finnian' also mentions a visit to Tours, and two of St. Finnian's pupils, Columcille and Columb Mac Criomthainn, are said to have visited Tours, the Irish life may be correct. Finnian, probably on his way back, was at Cell Muine, or St. David's in Wales, where he met David, Gildas, and Cathmael or Docus. Here he is said to have stayed thirty years, and to have spoken the British language 'as if it was his own native tongue.' Finnian was employed to negotiate with the Saxon invaders, and failing in this is said to have overthrown them by supernatural means. An angel warned him to return to Ireland, which was in need of his teaching, instead of visiting Rome as he wished to do. He obeyed the divine call, and
