William Stuart (bishop)

William Stuart PC (15 March 1755 – 6 May 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.

The Most Reverend and Honourable

William Stuart

PC
Archbishop of Armagh
Primate of all Ireland
ChurchChurch of Ireland
ProvinceArmagh
DioceseArmagh
In office1800-1822
PredecessorWilliam Newcome
SuccessorLord John Beresford
Orders
Ordination1779
Consecration12 January 1794
by John Moore
Personal details
Born15 March 1755
Died6 May 1822(1822-05-06) (aged 67)
London, England
BuriedLuton Hoo, England
NationalityEnglish
DenominationAnglican
ParentsJohn Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute & Mary Wortley-Montagu
SpouseSophia Penn
ChildrenMary, William, Henry
Previous postBishop of St David's (1794-1800)
EducationWinchester College
Alma materSt John's College, Cambridge
Archbishop William Stuart sculpted by Francis Chantrey.

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]

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]

Death

He died in London[6] on 6 May 1822, aged 67, as a result of having accidentally taken an improper medicine.[5][7]

He was buried at his family's seat, Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire.[7]

Sculpture in the north aisle of St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh

In St Patrick's Anglican Cathedral in Armagh there is a full-length marble figure of the Archbishop in the attitude of prayer, sculpted by Sir Francis Chantrey.[8] Beneath it is the following Latin inscription:[7]

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.[7]
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. Most Rev. Hon. William Stuart. Peerage.com. Retrieved on 19 March 2010.
  2. "Three Sons of John, 3rd Earl of Bute". Tate. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. Source: Cambridge University Alumni, 1261–1900.
  4. 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.
  5. Fryde, ibid., p. 380.
  6. In Hill Street, Berkeley Square, according to his obituary published in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1822, Vol 92, Part 1, p 469, https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fRNEAQAAMAAJ (accessed 20 Sept 2017).
  7. 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.
  8. "Funary Monuments & Memorials in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh" Curl, J.S. pp42-50: Whitstable; Historical Publications; 2013 ISBN 978-1-905286-48-5
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
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