Robert Clayton (bishop) facts for kids
Robert Clayton (born in 1695, died in 1758) was an important Irish bishop. He is best known for his book called Essay on Spirit. During his life, he was famous for having unusual ideas about religion. Many people wondered if his beliefs were truly Christian. When he died, he was facing serious questions about his religious views.
Life Story
Robert Clayton was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1695. His family owned land in England. He was the oldest of seven children. His father, John Clayton, was a church leader. Robert was taught at home by a private teacher. He was also the nephew of William Clayton, a politician from Liverpool.
Robert went to Trinity College, Dublin. He earned several degrees there between 1714 and 1730. After college, he traveled around Italy and France. In 1728, his father died, and Robert inherited a good amount of money. He married Katherine Donnellan. He was a very wealthy man and lived in a large house in Dublin, which is now part of Iveagh House. This house was designed for him by Richard Castle.
Robert became friends with a famous thinker named Samuel Clarke. Robert agreed with Clarke's ideas, which were called Arian doctrines. These were different ways of understanding some Christian beliefs. Because of his friendship with Clarke, Queen Caroline helped Robert become a bishop. In 1729, he became the bishop of Killala and Achonry. Later, he became bishop of Cork and Ross in 1735, and then bishop of Clogher in 1745. He also became a member of important groups like the Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Fellow of the Royal Society.
About His Character
Horace Walpole, a writer, joked that Bishop Clayton died because he was worried about defending his religious ideas. However, Walpole also said that Clayton truly believed in his own thoughts, even if others found them hard to understand. Robert's wife, Katherine Donnellan, was known for being a bit proud. The artist Mary Delaney once said Katherine acted "like a Queen" after her husband became a bishop.
His Writings
Robert Clayton wrote many books and letters. His first published work was a letter in a science magazine in 1738. He also wrote sermons and books about religion and history.
One of his important books was 'The Chronology of the Hebrew Bible vindicated,' published in 1747. In 1749, he wrote 'A Dissertation on Prophesy,' which tried to connect ideas from the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation. He believed that certain big events would happen around the year 2000.
His most famous book was 'Essay on Spirit,' published in 1751. This book contained his Arian beliefs, which caused a lot of discussion and disagreement. Many people, including other religious leaders, criticized his ideas. Because of this book, he was not chosen to become an archbishop.
In 1753, he published 'A Journey from Grand Cairo to Mount Sinai, and back again.' This book was a translation of an old manuscript. It described a trip to Mount Sinai and mentioned strange writings believed to be from the ancient Israelites. Robert offered to help explore the area, but no official steps were taken. However, another traveler, Edward Wortley Montagu, did visit the site because of Clayton's book.
Robert also wrote 'A Vindication of the Histories of the Old and New Testament,' which defended parts of the Bible. He continued to write about his religious ideas and other topics until his death.
