CIRCE

"His Grace, the most reverend Dr William Alexander, archbishop of Armagh, primate of all Ireland," (U15.1422)

William Alexander (1824 - 1911) belonged to the Church of Ireland. In 1904, he was Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland (1896 - 1911). He was born in Derry, the third child of Rev Robert Alexander. He was educated at Tonbridge School and Brasenose College Oxford. After holding several livings in Northern Ireland, he was made bishop of Derry and Raphoe (1867) then Archbishop of Armagh (1896). He was the last bishop to sit in the House of Lords before the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871. 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 'St Augustine's Holiday and other Poems.'