Achilles Daunt
Encyclopedia
Achilles Daunt was a noted Irish preacher and homilist, and Anglican
dean of Cork
.
, Gloucestershire
, settled since 1575 at Tracton Abbey, County Cork
. He was the eldest son of Achilles Daunt who died 28 August. 1871, by Mary, third daughter of John Isaac Heard, Member of Parliament
for Kinsale
.
He was born at Rincurran, near Kinsale
, on 23 August 1832. He was educated at Kinsale endowed school, and at the early age of sixteen entered the university of Dublin
, where he gained a classical scholarship, and was awarded the vice-chancellor's prize for English
poetry
in 1851. At the degree examination in 1853 he came out second senior moderator and gold medallist in classics.
. On 11 January 1867 he resigned Rincurran, was for a short time rector of Ballymoney
, co. Cork, and then became rector of Stackallen, County Meath
, and private chaplain to his friend and diocesan, Samuel Butcher
. In August 1867 he left Stackallen for the vicarage of St. Matthias, Dublin. In the metropolis his fame crowded his church, where he preached morning and evening every Sunday, and when it was found necessary to rebuild his church, he preached in the large concert hall in the exhibition palace to congregations which averaged upwards of three thousand persons. After a last service held in this place on 31 July 1870, he took possession of his new church.
His influence in Dublin was great, not only among adults, but with students and young ladies. As soon as the new constitution of the ‘disestablished’ church came into action, Daunt was elected to the responsible office of diocesan nominator. He was also chosen the representative canon in St. Patrick's Cathedral
for the united diocese of Dublin and Glendalough
, and was named a member of the committee connected with the general synod called the ‘revision committee’, where he sided with the ‘party of movement’; but his influence was largely exercised in acting as a peacemaker. The incessant labour in Dublin was now telling on Daunt's health, and his old friend John Gregg, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
, offered him in 1875 the deanery of Cork and the rectory of Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
, which he accepted.
But his health was broken. He died at St. Anne's hydropathic establishment at Blarney
on 17 June 1878, and was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
, Dublin, on 21 June.
He married, 24 February 1863, Katherine Mary, daughter of the Rev. John Leslie, rector of Castlemartyr
.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
dean of Cork
Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Cork city, Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.It was featured on the Irish postcard before the Irish entry of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow, Russia....
.
Early life and education
Achilles Daunt descended from a cadet branch of the Daunt family of OwlpenOwlpen
Owlpen is a small village and civil parish in the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England, set in a picturesque valley in the Cotswold hills. It is about one mile east of Uley, and three miles east of Dursley. The Owlpen valley is set around the settlement like an amphitheatre of wooded hills...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, settled since 1575 at Tracton Abbey, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was the eldest son of Achilles Daunt who died 28 August. 1871, by Mary, third daughter of John Isaac Heard, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
.
He was born at Rincurran, near Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
, on 23 August 1832. He was educated at Kinsale endowed school, and at the early age of sixteen entered the university of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, where he gained a classical scholarship, and was awarded the vice-chancellor's prize for English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in 1851. At the degree examination in 1853 he came out second senior moderator and gold medallist in classics.
Preacher
He held the curacy of St. Matthias, Dublin, for seven months in 1855, and was afterwards presented by his grandfather, Mr. Heard, to the vicarage of Rincurran. Here his earnest preaching attracted large congregations, and he soon had to enlarge the church. Among other works commenced and carried out by him with great success were a special class for servants and the chaplaincy to the garrison at Charles FortCharles Fort
Charles Hoy Fort was an American writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena. Today, the terms Fortean and Forteana are used to characterize various such phenomena. Fort's books sold well and are still in print today.-Biography:Charles Hoy Fort was born in 1874 in Albany, New York, of Dutch...
. On 11 January 1867 he resigned Rincurran, was for a short time rector of Ballymoney
Ballymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
, co. Cork, and then became rector of Stackallen, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and private chaplain to his friend and diocesan, Samuel Butcher
Samuel Butcher (bishop)
Samuel Butcher PC was an Irish Anglican bishop in the Church of Ireland in the 19th century.Butcher was the son of Samuel Butler, a distinguished naval commander. He was Professor of Divinity at Trinity College, Dublin from 1852 to 1866 when he became Bishop of Meath...
. In August 1867 he left Stackallen for the vicarage of St. Matthias, Dublin. In the metropolis his fame crowded his church, where he preached morning and evening every Sunday, and when it was found necessary to rebuild his church, he preached in the large concert hall in the exhibition palace to congregations which averaged upwards of three thousand persons. After a last service held in this place on 31 July 1870, he took possession of his new church.
His influence in Dublin was great, not only among adults, but with students and young ladies. As soon as the new constitution of the ‘disestablished’ church came into action, Daunt was elected to the responsible office of diocesan nominator. He was also chosen the representative canon in St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
for the united diocese of Dublin and Glendalough
Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough
The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough is a diocese of the Church of Ireland in the east of Ireland. It is headed by the Archbishop of Dublin who is also styled the Primate of Ireland...
, and was named a member of the committee connected with the general synod called the ‘revision committee’, where he sided with the ‘party of movement’; but his influence was largely exercised in acting as a peacemaker. The incessant labour in Dublin was now telling on Daunt's health, and his old friend John Gregg, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross is the Church of Ireland Ordinary of the united Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in the Province of Dublin....
, offered him in 1875 the deanery of Cork and the rectory of Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Cork city, Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.It was featured on the Irish postcard before the Irish entry of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow, Russia....
, which he accepted.
But his health was broken. He died at St. Anne's hydropathic establishment at Blarney
Blarney
Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork...
on 17 June 1878, and was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
, Dublin, on 21 June.
He married, 24 February 1863, Katherine Mary, daughter of the Rev. John Leslie, rector of Castlemartyr
Castlemartyr
Castlemartyr is a village in east County Cork, Ireland. It is located 25 minutes east of Cork city, 10 km east of Midleton, 16 km west of Youghal and 6 km from the coast...
.
Works
He was the author of a number of books, including:- The Church. A Lesson-book for Angels, 1872.
- The Person and Offices of the Holy Ghost: Six Donnellan Lectures preached in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, 1879.
- The Morning of Life, and other Gleanings from the manuscripts of the late A. Daunt, 1881.