Thomas Elrington

Elrington, Thomas, Bishop of Ferns, was born near Dublin in December 1760. At the age of fourteen he entered Trinity College, and soon distinguished himself as a mathematician, gaining a fellowship when but twenty years of age. In 1792 he engaged in a controversy arising out of one of Archbishop Troy's pastorals. In 1811 he was appointed Provost, in which capacity he exhibited judgment and firmness in repressing disorders and sustaining the discipline of the College. In 1820 he was consecrated Bishop of Limerick, and two years after was translated to Ferns. He died at Liverpool of paralysis, said to have been induced by sea-sickness, 12th July 1835, aged about 75. He was interred in the College Chapel, Dublin. As a bishop he is said to have been strict in discipline, yet munificent, hospitable, and kind, and beloved by all. His edition of Euclid is well known and much esteemed. He also edited for the use of Trinity College, Dublin, Locke on Government, and an expurgated edition of Juvenalis et Persius. Cotton gives a list of twenty-nine publications from his pen — many in defence of the Establishment against the attacks of "J. K. L." and others. He is referred to in Castlereagh's Memoirs under date of February 1799, as seeking for permission to break the rule of celibacy then enjoined on the Senior Fellows of Trinity College. His son Charles Richard Elrington was Regius Professor of Divinity in Trinity College.

Sources

16. Authors, Dictionary of British and American: S. Austin Allibone. 3 vols. Philadelphia, 1859-'71.

39. Biographical Dictionary, Imperial: Edited by John F. Waller. 3 vols. London, N.D.

72. Castlereagh, Viscount: Memoirs and Correspondence, edited by the Marquis of Londonderry. 12 vols. London, 1848-'53.

118. Ecclesiae Hiberniae Fasti: Rev. Henry Cotton: Indices by John R. Garstin, M.A. 5 vols. Dublin, 1851-'60.