William Seth Agar

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William Seth Agar was an English Canon, born at York, 25 December 1815; died 23 August 1872.

He was educated at Prior Park, Bath, and was ordained priest there, and appointed (1845) to Lyme Regis, Dorset. Ill health obliged him to leave Lyme twice, and in 1852 he was appointed chaplain to the canonesses of St. Augustine at Abbotsleigh, where he lived uninterruptedly to his death. In 1856 he was installed as Canon of the Plymouth Chapter. He is considered by Roman Catholics to have been "one of the most deeply versed priests in England in ascetical and mystical theology, and in the operations of grace in souls".

He was more a profound thinker than a great reader, although he studied many theological and philosophical works, especially the published writings of his favorite author, Rosmini, which he carefully annotated. William Seth Agar also translated Rosmini's Catholic Catechism into English.

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.