Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Henry, William (d.1768)

1389940Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 26 — Henry, William (d.1768)1891William Alexander Reynell

HENRY, WILLIAM, D.D. (d. 1768), dean of Killaloe, was probably a native of Gloucestershire, and was educated at the university of Dublin. His entrance and date of his B.A. degree are not recorded, but he proceeded M.A. vernis 1748, and B.D. and D.D. vernis 1750. Henry was the friend and chaplain to Dr. Josiah Hort [q. v.], who was consecrated to the see of Ferns in 1721, and was translated to Kilmore in 1727, and to Tuam in 1741. By this prelate he was collated to the benefice of Killesher, diocese of Kilmore, co. Fermanagh, 1 Oct. 1731. Henry became rector of Urney, diocese of Derry, co. Tyrone, in 1734, and dean of Killaloe 29 Nov. 1761. He died in Dublin on 13 Feb. 1768, and was interred at St. Anne's in that city. His wife survived him, and remarrying with Surgeon Doyle of Dublin (whom she also survived), died in February or March 1793. Henry was a popular preacher, a keen observer of natural history and phenomena, and an earnest advocate both for temperance and for civil and religious liberty. He was elected F.R.S. of London 20 Feb. 1755. At least twelve of his single sermons were printed, and three of his papers, read before the Royal Society, appear in the ‘Philosophical Transactions.’ One of these papers, read in 1753, treated of ‘The Copper Springs in County Wicklow.’ ‘A Description of Lough Erne in Ireland,’ from his pen, was first edited by Sir Charles King, bart. (Dublin, 1892), from the British Museum, Add. MS. 4436. Letters from Henry to the Duke of Newcastle between 1761 and 1768 are in Add. MSS. 32930, &c.

[Todd's Cat. of Grad. Univ. Dubl.; Cotton's Fasti Eccles. Hib.; Pue's Occurrences, 20 Feb. 1768, Dublin; Walker's Hib. Mag.; Cat. Scientific Papers; First-fruits Returns, Public Record Office, Dublin.]

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