William Stuart (bishop)

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William Stuart (bishop) bigraphy, stories - Irish bishop

William Stuart (bishop) : biography

1755 – 6 May 1822

William Stuart PC, D.D. (1755–1822) was an Anglican clergyman who served as Bishop of St David’s in Wales from 1794 to 1800 and then Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland from 1800 to his death.

Episcopal career

He was consecrated Bishop of St David’s on 12 January 1794. Six years later, he was nominated Archbishop of Armagh on 30 October 1800 and appointed by letters patent on 22 November 1800.Fryde, ibid., p. 380.

He died in London (or possibly in Bath) from accidentally taking an improper medicine on 6 May 1822, aged 68. He was buried at his family’s seat, Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire. In St Patrick’s Anglican Cathedral in Armagh is a full length marble figure of the Archbishop, in the attitude of prayer; and beneath it is the following Latin inscription:

M. S. / Reverendissimi in Christo patris / GULIELMI STUART, S T P. / per annos xxii hujusce Ecclesiæ / Archiepiscopi. / Hoc monumentum / Clerici Armachani / pio functi munere / posuerunt. / Obiit anno salutis MDCCCXXII / Ætat. Suæ Ixviii.

Family life

Stuart was the son of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute and Mary Wortley-Montagu.. Peerage.com. Retrieved on 19 March 2010. On 3 May 1796, William married Sophia Penn, daughter of Thomas Penn, and had three children:

  • Mary Juliana Stuart (died 11 July 1866) married Thomas Knox, 2nd Earl of Ranfurly.
  • Sir William Stuart (born 31 October 1798–died 7 July 1874) married firstly Henrietta Mariah Sarah, daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Pole, 1st Baronet, and married secondly Georgiana, daughter of General Frederick Nathaniel Walker.
  • Henry Stuart (born 1804–died 26 October 1854, Kempston, Bedfordshire).Source: Cambridge University Alumni, 1261–1900.