St George Ashe facts for kids
St. George Ashe (born March 3, 1657 – died February 27, 1718) was an important Irish mathematician and leader at a university. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, he became a Bishop in the Church of Ireland for different areas like Cloyne, Clogher, and Derry. From 1685 to 1692, he taught mathematics at Trinity College Dublin. He is often remembered because some people believe he secretly married Jonathan Swift and Esther Johnson (also known as Stella).
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Who Was St. George Ashe?
St. George Ashe was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1658. He was one of the younger sons of Thomas Ashe and Mary St George. His brother, Dillon Ashe, also became a church leader.
His Education and Early Career
Ashe went to Trinity College Dublin, which is a famous university. He earned his first degree there in 1676. He then became a Fellow (a kind of academic staff member) in 1679. He was very good at math and became a Professor of Mathematics in 1685. Later, he became the Provost (the head of the college) in 1692 and Vice-Chancellor in 1702.
For a while, he worked as a secretary and chaplain for the British Embassy in Vienna, Austria. When he returned to Ireland in 1692, he was chosen to lead Trinity College.
Becoming a Bishop
St. George Ashe became a Bishop in the Church of Ireland. This meant he was a senior leader in the church.
His Journey as a Bishop
- He became the Bishop of Cloyne in 1695.
- Then, he moved to become the Bishop of Clogher in 1697.
- Finally, he became the Bishop of Derry in 1717.
He spent a lot of money making the Bishop's house in Clogher look new and better. In 1716, he was offered an even higher position as Archbishop of Tuam, but he said no. He felt the pay for that job was not enough.
Sometimes, Ashe was away from his church duties for long periods. Another important church leader, William King, who was the Archbishop of Dublin, was not happy about this. King wrote to Ashe, saying that if bishops were not around, people might think they were not needed. He asked Ashe to come back home as soon as possible.
His Contributions and Death
St. George Ashe was also a member of the Royal Society, which is a group for important scientists. He sometimes shared his work with them. He passed away in Dublin on February 27, 1718, and was buried in Christ Church. He left his collection of math books to Trinity College.
St. George Ashe's Family Life
St. George Ashe was married to Jane St George. They had a son, also named St George Ashe, and a daughter named Elizabeth.
His Son's Grand Tour
Two years before Bishop Ashe died, he sent his son, St George Ashe, on a "Grand Tour." This was a long trip around Europe that young wealthy men often took to learn about different cultures. The famous philosopher George Berkeley went with his son as a tutor. They traveled all over Italy, including places like Sicily and Calabria. Sadly, young Ashe died in Brussels in 1721, likely before seeing his father again.
His Daughter's Family
His daughter, Elizabeth, married Sir Ralph Gore, 4th Baronet. They had many children, including a son named Ralph Gore, 1st Earl of Ross, who became a very important person.
What People Thought of St. George Ashe
Even though he was sometimes away from his duties as a bishop, St. George Ashe was well-liked by his friends. Joseph Addison, a famous writer, wrote to Jonathan Swift after Ashe's death. He said that Ashe was a man who was kind, good at conversation, and very learned.
The Mystery of Swift and Stella
Bishop Ashe was a close friend of Jonathan Swift for his whole life. Ashe had even been Swift's tutor when Swift was a student at Trinity College.
A Secret Marriage?
In 1726, Esther Johnson, who was Swift's lifelong friend and companion (often called "Stella"), reportedly told her friends something surprising. She claimed that Bishop Ashe had secretly married her and Swift in 1716. She said there were no witnesses to the ceremony.
Whether this secret marriage actually happened has been a topic of much discussion for a long time. Swift and Stella's friends had different opinions on whether the story was true. Today, historians still can't be sure. Bishop Ashe, Swift, and Stella were the only people who would have known the truth. But Ashe had already passed away when Stella supposedly shared her secret, making it impossible to confirm.
