Achilles Daunt facts for kids

Achilles Daunt (1832–1878) was an important Irish preacher and speaker. He was also the Dean of Cork in the Church of Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Achilles Daunt came from a family that had lived in County Cork, Ireland, since 1575. His family originally came from Gloucestershire, England. He was the oldest son of Achilles Daunt and Mary Heard. His mother's father, John Isaac Heard, was a Member of Parliament for Kinsale.

Achilles Daunt was born on August 23, 1832, near Kinsale. He went to school in Kinsale. When he was sixteen, he started studying at Trinity College Dublin. He was a very good student, winning a special scholarship for classical studies. In 1851, he won a prize for English poetry. When he graduated in 1853, he was one of the top students in classics.

Becoming a Popular Preacher

In 1855, Achilles Daunt worked for seven months at St. Matthias' Church in Dublin. After that, his grandfather, Mr. Heard, helped him become the vicar of Rincurran. In Rincurran, he started special classes for servants. He also became a chaplain for the soldiers at Charles Fort.

On January 11, 1867, he left Rincurran. For a short time, he was the rector of Ballymoney, County Cork. Then he became the rector of Stackallen, County Meath. He also worked as a private chaplain for his friend, Bishop Samuel Butcher. In August 1867, he moved back to Dublin to be the vicar of St. Matthias' Church.

He was so popular that his church needed to be rebuilt because it was too small. While the church was being rebuilt, he preached in a large concert hall. More than three thousand people came to listen to him preach there! He gave his last sermon in the concert hall on July 31, 1870. After that, he moved into the new church building.

A Leader in the Church

When the Church of Ireland changed its structure, Achilles Daunt was chosen for important roles. He was elected as a diocesan nominator. He was also chosen to represent his diocese in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He became a member of a special committee that worked on changes for the church. He often helped different groups in the church work together peacefully.

All the hard work in Dublin started to affect Achilles Daunt's health. In 1875, his old friend John Gregg, who was the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, offered him the job of Dean of Cork. This also included being the rector of Saint Finbarre's Cathedral. Achilles Daunt accepted the offer.

However, his health continued to get worse. He passed away on June 17, 1878, at a health center in Blarney. He was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, on June 21.

Achilles Daunt married Katherine Mary Leslie on February 24, 1863. She was the daughter of Reverend John Leslie.

His Writings

Achilles Daunt wrote several books, including:

• The Church. A Lesson-book for Angels, published in 1872.
• The Person and Offices of the Holy Ghost: Six Donnellan Lectures preached in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, published in 1879.
• The Morning of Life, and other Gleanings from the manuscripts of the late A. Daunt, published in 1881.