William Conyngham Plunket, 4th Baron Plunket
Encyclopedia
William Conyngham Plunket, 4th Baron Plunket (26 August 1828 – 1 April 1897) was a Church of Ireland
Dean of Christ Church Cathedral
and Archbishop of Dublin
.
and Trinity College, Dublin
before being appointed chaplain and private secretary to his uncle, the Bishop of Tuam, in 1857, a post he held for seven years. The following year, he became Rector of Kilmoyan and Cummer in County Galway
.
In 1864, he returned to Dublin as Treasurer
of St Patrick's Cathedral
, of which he was appointed Preceptor
in 1869.
In 1876, Lord Plunket (as he became on succeeding his father in 1871) was consecrated Bishop of Meath
, and in 1884 he was finally appointed Archbishop of Dublin, an office he held until his death. He was Dean of Christ Church Cathedral
from 1884 until 1887.
Plunket received an honorary degree
from Cambridge University
in 1888. He also served as a Commissioner of Education from 1895 onwards, and was a senator of the Royal University of Ireland
.
. Their son William was to have a successful career in government administration. Another son, Benjamin, served as Bishop of Ormonde and was the father of Olive, Countess Fitzwilliam
. His sister married John Darley
, bishop of Kilmore, Elphin, and Ardagh.
His wife having precedeased him in 1889, Lord Plunket died aged 68 in Dublin, and he was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
.
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 Christ Church Cathedral
Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin is the senior official of that church, the cathedral of the United Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland, and head of the Chapter, its governing body...
and Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Church of Ireland)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland...
.
Life
Born in Dublin, Plunket was educated at Cheltenham CollegeCheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
and Trinity College, Dublin
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...
before being appointed chaplain and private secretary to his uncle, the Bishop of Tuam, in 1857, a post he held for seven years. The following year, he became Rector of Kilmoyan and Cummer in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
.
In 1864, he returned to Dublin as Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of 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...
, of which he was appointed Preceptor
Preceptor
A preceptor is a teacher responsible to uphold a certain law or tradition, a precept.-Christian military orders:A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certain orders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar, within a given...
in 1869.
In 1876, Lord Plunket (as he became on succeeding his father in 1871) was consecrated Bishop of Meath
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, and in 1884 he was finally appointed Archbishop of Dublin, an office he held until his death. He was Dean of Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
from 1884 until 1887.
Plunket received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1888. He also served as a Commissioner of Education from 1895 onwards, and was a senator of the Royal University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
.
Family
In 1863 he married Anne Lee Guinness, daughter of Sir Benjamin Lee GuinnessBenjamin Guinness
Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, 1st Baronet was an Irish brewer and philanthropist.-Brewer:Born in Dublin, he was the third son of the second Arthur Guinness , and his wife Anne Lee, and a grandson of the latter's namesake who founded the Guinness brewery in 1759...
. Their son William was to have a successful career in government administration. Another son, Benjamin, served as Bishop of Ormonde and was the father of Olive, Countess Fitzwilliam
Peter Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 8th Earl FitzWilliam
William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 8th Earl Fitzwilliam, DSO , styled Viscount Milton before 1943, was a British soldier and aristocrat.-Biography:...
. His sister married John Darley
John Richard Darley
John Richard Darley DD , a "man who laboured strenuously to awaken and sustain the practical interest of the clergy and laity", was a 19th century Irish Anglican Bishop . Born in County Monaghan and educated at the Royal School Dungannon and Trinity College, Dublin, he was later Headmaster of his...
, bishop of Kilmore, Elphin, and Ardagh.
His wife having precedeased him in 1889, Lord Plunket died aged 68 in Dublin, and he 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...
.