Background
Caulfield was born in Cork on 23 April 1823, a grandson of Henry Gosnell, physician at the Lying-In Hospital and first resident surgeon at the Cork North Infirmary.
Caulfield was born in Cork on 23 April 1823, a grandson of Henry Gosnell, physician at the Lying-In Hospital and first resident surgeon at the Cork North Infirmary.
Caulfield was educated under Doctor Browne at Bandon endowed school, and was admitted a pensioner at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1841. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1845, Bachelor of Laws in 1864, and Doctor of Laws in 1866.
One of six children born to Catherine Gosnell and William Caulfield, he was named Richard, a family name. There he was influenced by the lectures on ancient philosophy of William Archer Butler. The Society of Antiquaries elected Caulfield a fellow on 13 February 1862, and he became librarian of the Royal Cork Institution in 1864.
Caulfield died aged 64 on 3 February 1887 at his residence, the Royal Cork Institution, after a severe attack of bronchitis.
He was respected across the sectarian divide. The funeral took place on 7 February when he was buried in Street Luke"s Cemetery, Douglas.
In Caulfield"s memory, a bronze door was erected at Saint Finbarre"s Cathedral.
He was appointed in 1876 librarian of Queen"s College, Cork, and in 1882 was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of History at Madrid. He was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy, and a member of the committee for rebuilding Cork cathedral.
