Patrick Given was born at Dunnygarron, Cullybackey on the 13th April 1837. He received the rudiments of his education at the village school and was generally at the top of his class. In the winter of 1856 and 1857 a series of public lectures on chemistry and physics were held in Ballymena. These lectures attracted a large amount of attention and at the close of each series an examination was held for those who had attended provided they had not taken any notes during their delivery. Patrick Given won the medal both years.

Around this time Patrick went as a pupil teacher to the Ballymena Model School, and shortly afterwards was put in charge of the Bridge End National School as principal. From here he went to the Training Institution, Dublin, where he stayed the required time. On his return he resumed his duties as principal of Bridge End School but after a few months he resigned and went as a student to the Queen’s College, Belfast. For the next four years he pursued his studies winning many prizes in English literature, history, Greek and Latin, logic and chemistry.

In the spring of 1864 Patrick was awarded first prize for the best original poem in the Shakespeare Tercentenary competition at Belfast. Patrick had won for himself an acknowledge position in the literary world but sadly in early August 1864 he suddenly became unwell and passed away on the 15th August 1864.