Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Finn, Daniel

Teacher, archaeologist, missionary; born Cork, Ireland, 24 March 1886; died London, 1 November 1936, aged 50.

Daniel Finn was educated at the Presentation College, Cork. When still under age he won first place in Ireland in the Preparatory Grade, 1896, against over 2,600 competitors, securing 90% all round in his subjects. He was awarded a large gold medal, and was chaired through the college by his school-fellows.

Two years later he came second in the Junior Grade, winning four first composition prizes in Latin, French, German and Italian. He obtained first-class exhibitions in Middle and Senior Grades, while still under age, and in the Middle Grade, a gold medal for first place in three modern languages. During these years he showed special devotion to Our Lady, and was noted for a certain gravity and cheerfulness of disposition which he never lost.

He entered the Society at Tullamore under Michael Browne, 6 September 1902, and remained there as a junior, 1904-7. The following two years he prepared for public examinations at University College, Dublin, studying archaeology and gaining a BA degree. After a short break, 1908-9, teaching the juniors at Tullamore, he went to St John's College, Oxford, to complete his university studies in archaeology, gaining a diploma in that subject. He worked under Sir Percy Gardner.

He returned to Ireland and Clongowes College, 1910-13, teaching book-keeping, Latin and Greek. His lectures to the community at this time on the great works of painting and sculpture where much appreciated.

He went to Innsbruck for philosophy in 1912, learning Hungarian and some Slav languages while retaining his knowledge of Irish. His first sermon in the refectory on St Brigid was preached in his native tongue. He continued his interest in art and archaeology.

In July 1915 he was banished from the Tirol by the War authorities upon Italy's entry into the First World War, and went to the College at Kalksburg near Vienna where he began theology in private. While there he acquired a sound knowledge of Hebrew.

In 1917 he joined the Polish theologate at Dziedzice in Prussian Silesia. It was here, as a result of a severe cold, he contracted tuberculosis and was sent to the Jesuit residence in Zakopane, a famous health resort. He was ordained on 24 February 1919, in order to have the consolation of dying a priest. However, he was able to return to Ireland at the end of June after spending the winter of 1919-20 at Petworth, England.

He continued his theology studies in Australia and completed his tertianship at Loyola College, Greenwich, during 1920-22, and also taught the juniors. His major work in Australia was as prefect of studies and teacher at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1922-26. Here he is remembered for swimming in the baths, rowing on the river in the Gladstone skiff or in a Four, or throwing himself into the production of a Passion play. He also taught one boy Japanese.

During his time at Riverview he volunteered for the Japanese mission, and, in fact, set off for that place, but was diverted by superiors to the Hong Kong mission.

For a year he resided at Hong Kong engaged on the language and employed at the university as lecturer in pedagogy. From 1928 to the summer of 1931 he was at Canton in charge of the studies of Bishop Fourquet's Sacred Heart School. It was at Canton he began the study of Chinese archaeology. At this time he translated several volumes of 'Researches into Chinese superstitions' written by Fr Dore SJ.

Returning to Hong Kong in 1931 he was made spiritual director to the seminarians, professor in Church history, and lecturer in geography at the university. Notwithstanding all this, he found time for research for which we would be chiefly remembered - his archaeological researches on Lamma Island and other regions around Hong Kong, by which he greatly enhanced the reputation of the Church in the Far East.

He represented the university and the government at an International Congress in Manila and at Oslo in 1936. This latter was the occasion of his return to Europe. His paper read at Oslo was entitled, 'Crucial doubts about the most important finds in the Hong Kong region.' In addition to this lecture, he published 13 articles in the Hong Kong Naturalist, entitled 'Archaeological finds on Lamma Island, 1932-36'.

On 5 October Finn left Dublin for the British Museum to continue his reading and discussion of the prehistoric specimens he had brought home with him. He was engaged in this work up to the 10th when he developed a carbuncle that indicated a general blood infection. He was transferred to hospital on 16th, where, despite expert treatment, he failed to respond and died.

Finn carried his learning lightly: he laughed amusedly at the pedantic and ponderous. He was extremely humble, unassuming and simple, though a man of intense intellectual concentration and power for work. He was gifted with a strong robust character that knew no temporising or equivocation. His literary gifts were of a high order, as appeared from the little that was left in the way of letters written during his first years in China. He was an extraordinarily fine linguist, speaking Chinese, Irish, Latin, Greek, French, German, Polish and Japanese. His early death saddened both his Jesuit and scientific colleagues.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)