Hincks ,.I. Edward, an Irish archaeologist, born in Cork about 1792, died at Killyleagh, county Down, Dec. 3, 1866. He studied under his father, who was professor of Hebrew and head master of the classical school in the Belfast academical institution, graduated at Trinity college, Dublin, in 1812, took orders, and in 1826 became rector of the parish of Killyleagh. He contributed many important papers, especially on Egyptian hieroglyphics and Assyrian cuneiform inscriptions, to the transactions of various societies. Among the best known of these is a translation of portions of an inscription of Tiglath-pileser the elder, published by the royal Asiatic society (1857), in parallel columns with three other translations, in order to show by their general agreement that the true principles of interpretation had been discovered. He published a catalogue of the Egyptian manuscripts in the library of Trinity college (1849); "A Letter to Professor Renouf on the Polyphony of the Assyrio-Babylonian Cuneiform Writing" (1863); and some religious works, among which is a report of a doctrinal discussion with three Roman Catholic priests (1829). II. Sir Francis, a Canadian statesman, brother of the preceding, born in Cork, Ireland, in 1807. He engaged in commercial pursuits in Canada, and afterward in journalism and politics, and became proprietor and editor of the "Toronto Examiner," and a member of the legislature.

He was finance minister in 1842-'3 and from 1848 to 1854, being from 1851 also prime minister. He was governor of the Windward islands from 1855 to 1862, and of British Guiana from 1862 to 1869, when he was knighted, and was again finance minister of Canada until late in 1873. He was among the first to urge a responsible ministry in Canada, and though opposed by Lord Sydenham, the governor, and by other influential persons, he secured the recognition of this principle by the English government. He has published pamphlets on political and financial subjects.