Henry Ussher
Encyclopedia
Henry Ussher was an Irish Protestant churchman, a founder of Trinity College, Dublin
and Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh.
and James Ussher
, sons of his brother Arland, were his nephews. Henry Ussher entered at Magdalene College, Cambridge
, matriculating on 2 May 1567, and graduating B. A. in the first quarter of 1570. His studies continued at Paris and at Oxford, where he entered at University College
, was incorporated B.A. 1 July 1572, and graduated M.A. 11 July 1572. His first preferment was the treasurership of Christ Church, Dublin (1573); on 12 March 1580 he was made archdeacon of Dublin by Adam Loftus
, with whom he was connected by marriage.
The project of converting St. Patrick's into a university was mooted as early as 1563; Adam Loftus, when made dean (28 January 1565), was put under a bond to resign the deanery when required for this purpose. In March 1570 James Stanyhurst, speaker of the Irish House of Commons
, moved the house for the foundation of a university at Dublin as part of a system of national education. He renewed the proposal in December 1573. It met with no support in parliament. In January 1584 the lord deputy, Sir John Perrot, received instructions to draw up proposals for the conversion of St. Patrick's into a college. He submitted a plan in August. Loftus, now archbishop of Dublin, sent Ussher in November to London to frustrate the scheme, which was abandoned.
The matter was next taken up by the Dublin corporation, who offered (21 January 1591) the site of the Augustinian priory of All Saints', with land worth £20 a year. Ussher was again sent to London, with letters bearing date 4 November 1591, to forward this new scheme. On 13 January 1592 he received a warrant (dated 21 December) granting the royal assent for the erection. On 3 March 1592 the foundation charter passed the great seal. Ussher was named in it as one of the three fellows; he never, however, acted as such, nor was he one of the original benefactors.
On the death (2 March 1595) of John Garvey
, his brother-in-law, Ussher was appointed archbishop of Armagh (patent 22 July), and was consecrated in August 1595. A story told by Henry Fitzsimon
, to the effect that Ussher had written against Cardinal Bellarmine, and his wife had burned the manuscript, was embellished by Pierre Bayle
. Ussher died at Termonfechin on Easter-day, 2 April 1613, and was buried at St. Peter's, Drogheda
.
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh.
Life
The second of five sons of Thomas Ussher by Margaret (d. January 1597), daughter of Henry Geydon, alderman of Dublin, he was born in Dublin about 1550. Ambrose UssherAmbrose Ussher
Ambrose Ussher was an Irish Protestant clergyman and scholar, a fellow of Trinity College, Dublin and rector in the Church of Ireland, known as a biblical translator.-Life:...
and James Ussher
James Ussher
James Ussher was Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625–56...
, sons of his brother Arland, were his nephews. Henry Ussher entered at Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, matriculating on 2 May 1567, and graduating B. A. in the first quarter of 1570. His studies continued at Paris and at Oxford, where he entered at University College
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, was incorporated B.A. 1 July 1572, and graduated M.A. 11 July 1572. His first preferment was the treasurership of Christ Church, Dublin (1573); on 12 March 1580 he was made archdeacon of Dublin by Adam Loftus
Adam Loftus
Adam Loftus may refer to:*Adam Loftus , Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh*Adam Loftus, 1st Viscount Loftus , nephew of the above, Irish peer...
, with whom he was connected by marriage.
The project of converting St. Patrick's into a university was mooted as early as 1563; Adam Loftus, when made dean (28 January 1565), was put under a bond to resign the deanery when required for this purpose. In March 1570 James Stanyhurst, speaker of the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
, moved the house for the foundation of a university at Dublin as part of a system of national education. He renewed the proposal in December 1573. It met with no support in parliament. In January 1584 the lord deputy, Sir John Perrot, received instructions to draw up proposals for the conversion of St. Patrick's into a college. He submitted a plan in August. Loftus, now archbishop of Dublin, sent Ussher in November to London to frustrate the scheme, which was abandoned.
The matter was next taken up by the Dublin corporation, who offered (21 January 1591) the site of the Augustinian priory of All Saints', with land worth £20 a year. Ussher was again sent to London, with letters bearing date 4 November 1591, to forward this new scheme. On 13 January 1592 he received a warrant (dated 21 December) granting the royal assent for the erection. On 3 March 1592 the foundation charter passed the great seal. Ussher was named in it as one of the three fellows; he never, however, acted as such, nor was he one of the original benefactors.
On the death (2 March 1595) of John Garvey
John Garvey (archbishop)
John Garvey was an Irish Protestant bishop of Kilmore and archbishop of Armagh.-Life:He was eldest son of John O'Garvey of Morisk, County Mayo, born in County Kilkenny. He was educated at the University of Oxford, graduating in the reign of Edward VI...
, his brother-in-law, Ussher was appointed archbishop of Armagh (patent 22 July), and was consecrated in August 1595. A story told by Henry Fitzsimon
Henry Fitzsimon
Henry Fitzsimon was an Irish Jesuit controversialist.-Life:He was educated a Protestant at Oxford , 1583-1587...
, to the effect that Ussher had written against Cardinal Bellarmine, and his wife had burned the manuscript, was embellished by Pierre Bayle
Pierre Bayle
Pierre Bayle was a French philosopher and writer best known for his seminal work the Historical and Critical Dictionary, published beginning in 1695....
. Ussher died at Termonfechin on Easter-day, 2 April 1613, and was buried at St. Peter's, Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
.