Henry Ussher

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 Ussher and James Ussher, sons of his brother Arnold, were his nephews, while his sister Rose married John Garvey, his predecessor as Archbishop. 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.[1] 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 his episcopal palace at Termonfechin on Easter-day, 2 April 1613, and was buried at St. Peter's, Drogheda.

He married, firstly (about 1573), Margaret, daughter of Thomas Eliot of Balrisk, co. Meath, by whom he had eight sons and two daughters; secondly, Mary Smith (who survived him), by whom he had three daughters. His widow remarried (1614) William FitzWilliam of Dundrum, Dublin, younger brother of Thomas FitzWilliam, 1st Viscount FitzWilliam, who died in 1616.

By the marriage of his daughter Rose to Sir Edward Trevor of Rostrevor, County Down, Ussher became the grandfather of Marcus Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon (1618–1670).[2]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Ussher, Henry (1550?-1613)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.