William Sheridan (bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh) facts for kids
William Sheridan (born around 1635 – died October 3, 1711) was an important Irish church leader in the 1600s. He served as the Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh from 1682 to 1691. Before that, he was the Dean of Down from 1669 to 1682.
Early Life and Family
William Sheridan was born in Togher, County Cavan, Ireland. His father, Dionysius Sheridan, was a former Catholic priest who became a Protestant. William's godfather was William Bedell, who was also a Protestant Bishop of Kilmore.
William came from a notable family. His brother, Patrick Sheridan, Cloyne, became the Protestant Bishop of Cloyne. Another brother, Sir Thomas Sheridan (politician), served as the Chief Secretary of State for Ireland.
Education and Career
William Sheridan studied at Trinity College, Dublin. After finishing his studies, he became a chaplain. A chaplain is a priest or minister who serves in a special place, like a private home or a military unit, rather than a church.
He first worked as a chaplain for Sir Maurice Eustace, who was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. After Eustace passed away in 1665, William became chaplain to James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, another very important person in Ireland.
William Sheridan married Mary O'Reilly, and they had one son named Donald Sheridan. His nephew, Thomas Sheridan, was the grandfather of the famous writer and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Bishop and Later Life
William Sheridan became the Bishop of Kilmore on February 19, 1682. This was a very important position in the church.
However, his time as bishop ended in 1691 because of a big political event called the Glorious Revolution. In 1688, there was a change in who ruled England. William and Mary became the new King and Queen.
Bishop Sheridan, like some other church leaders, refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the new rulers. This group of people were known as the Non-jurors. Because he would not take the oath, he lost his position as bishop.
After losing his job, William Sheridan left Ireland. He spent the rest of his life in London, living in difficult financial conditions. He passed away on October 3, 1711, and was buried in Fulham.
Legacy
An image of William Sheridan, created by the engraver William Sherwin, is kept at the National Library of Ireland.
