Background
Coghill was born in Castletownshend, County Cork, the second son of Irish painter Sir John Joscelyn Coghill, 4th Baronet, and his wife the Honorary Katherine Frances, daughter of John Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket.
Coghill was born in Castletownshend, County Cork, the second son of Irish painter Sir John Joscelyn Coghill, 4th Baronet, and his wife the Honorary Katherine Frances, daughter of John Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket.
He left a career in engineering to pursue one in the arts, studying in Düsseldorf and the Académie Julian in Paris. Coghill exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Liverpool Autumn Exhibitions at the Walker Art Gallery. He returned to his native land and settled in his home town of Castletownshend.
Many of his paintings feature the landscapes of County Cork.
In 1883-1884 he lived at Barbizon near Fontainebleau, then traveled to England where he became a member of the New English Art Club.
Spouse 1893, Elizabeth Hildegarde Augusta,daughter of late Colonel Thomas Henry Somerville of Drishane, Skibbereen. Heir: Marmaduke Nevill Patrick Somerville.