Richard Tennison

Richard Tenison (1642 – 29 July 1705) was an Irish bishop of Killala, Clogher and Meath.

He was born the eldest son of Thomas Tenison of Carrickfergus[1] and matriculated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1659.[2] Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury, was a cousin, and supported Richard in his career; in his will the Archbishop left legacies to Richard's sons.

He was made headmaster of the Diocesan School at Trim.[3] In 1671 he was presented as Rector and Vicar of Laracor[4] and in 1675 he was appointed Rector of Louth and Dean of Clogher. He owed his advancement largely to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex, whose private chaplain he became in 1672. On 19 February 1682 he was consecrated Bishop of Killala and Achonry,[5] a position he held until he was translated to Clogher on 28 February 1691.[6] He strongly opposed the pro- Roman Catholic policy of James II, and ultimately left Ireland in protest, taking up a living in London, from which he returned to Ireland in 1690. From Clogher he was translated a second time on 25 June 1697 to Meath,[7] where he remained until his death in 1705.

He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1697 and Vice-Chancellor of Dublin University in 1698.

He had married twice. He had a son and a daughter by his first marriage and four sons and a daughter by his second marriage. His eldest son, Henry (died 1709), became MP for County Monaghan. Henry was a friend of Jonathan Swift and Esther Johnson ("Stella"), and father of Thomas Tennison, judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland). The Bishop's second son, Richard junior, was MP for Dunleer.

Richard is said to have been a respected and conscientious bishop, but without much political influence.

References
  1. Clogher clergy and parishes : being an account of the clergy of the Church of Ireland in the Diocese of Clogher, from the earliest period, with historical notices of the several parishes, churches, etc" Leslie, J.B. p 14: Enniskille; R. H. Ritchie; 1929
  2. "Alumni Dublinenses : a register of the students, graduates, professors and provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593–1860 George Dames Burtchaell/Thomas Ulick Sadleir p804: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
  3.  "Tenison, Richard". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  4. New Ulster Biography
  5. "Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 4" Cotton,H. pp171-173 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848–1878
  6. "Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 3" Cotton,H. p80 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848–1878
  7. "Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 3" Cotton,H. pp120/21 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848–1878
  • Burke, Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland (1912). p. 682.
  • Pollard, Albert Frederick "Richard Tennison" Dictionary of National Biography 1885-1900 Vol. 56 p. 57
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