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The Most Rev. William Alexander, Protestant Bishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
The Most Rev. William Alexander, Protestant Bishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland

The Most Rev. William Alexander, Protestant Bishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland

Artist (1864 - 1948)
Date1890
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions91.5 x 71.1 cm
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Donated by H. Harris Brown (the Artist).
Object number280
DescriptionThis is a half-length portrait painting of a protestant archbishop, the Most Rev. William Alexander, wearing a hat and holding a stick in his right hand. His body is turned towards the left as he looks out at the viewer.

William Alexander (b. 1824), Protestant archbishop of Armagh and primate of all Ireland, was born at Londonderry on the 13th of April 1824 and educated at Tonbridge Grammar School and Brasenose College, Oxford. After holding several livings in the north of Ireland he was made bishop of Derry and Raphoe in 1867, and was elevated to the primacy in 1896. He was Bampton lecturer in 1876. An eloquent preacher and the author of numerous theological works, he is best known to literature as a master of dignified and animated verse. His poems were collected in 1887 under the title of St Augustine's Holiday, and other Poems.
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