William Stuart (bishop)
| The Most Reverend and Honourable William Stuart PC | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Armagh | |
 | |
| Province | Armagh |
| Diocese | Armagh |
| Installed | 1800 |
| Term ended | 1822 |
| Predecessor | William Newcome |
| Successor | Lord John Beresford |
| Other posts | Bishop of St David's |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 12 January 1794 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1755 |
| Died | 6 May 1822 (aged 67) |
| Buried | Luton Hoo, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Parents |
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute Mary Wortley-Montagu |
| Spouse | Sophia Penn |
| Children | Mary, William, Henry |
| Education | Winchester College |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
William Stuart PC (1755–1822) was an Anglican prelate who served as the Bishop of St David's in Wales from 1794 to 1800 and then Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland from 1800 until his death.
Family life
Stuart was the son of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (Prime Minister of Great Britain 1762–1763) and Mary Wortley-Montagu.[1] There is a painting in the Tate Gallery in London of him aged 12 stealing eggs and chicks from a bird's nest.[2]
He was educated at Winchester College and St John's College, Cambridge.
On 3 May 1796, William married Sophia Penn, daughter of Thomas Penn, and had three children:[1]
- 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).[3]
Episcopal ministry
In 1793 he was appointed Canon of the fourth stall at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a position he held until 1800.
He was consecrated Bishop of St David's on 12 January 1794.[4] Six years later, he was nominated Archbishop of Armagh on 30 October 1800 and appointed by letters patent on 22 November 1800.[5]
He died in London (or possibly in Bath) from accidentally taking an improper medicine on 6 May 1822, aged 67.[5][6] He was buried at his family's seat, Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire.[6] 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:[6]
- 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.[6]
- In sacred memory of the most reverend father in Christ, William Stuart STP, for 22 years archbishop of this church. The clergy of Armagh, making a pious offering, placed this monument. He died in the year of grace 1822, in the 68th year of his age.
References
- 1 2 Most Rev. Hon. William Stuart. Peerage.com. Retrieved on 19 March 2010.
- ↑
- ↑ Source: Cambridge University Alumni, 1261–1900.
- ↑ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 299. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- 1 2 Fryde, ibid., p. 380.
- 1 2 3 4 Cotton, Henry (1849). The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland. Fasti ecclesiae Hiberniae. Vol. 3, The Province of Ulster. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. p. 28.
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Samuel Horsley |
Bishop of St David's 1794–1800 |
Succeeded by Lord George Murray |
| Church of Ireland titles | ||
| Preceded by William Newcome |
Archbishop of Armagh 1800–1822 |
Succeeded by Lord John Beresford |