William Abraham (bishop) explained

Type:The Most Reverend
William Abraham
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore
Church:Roman Catholic Church
Diocese:Waterford and Lismore
Term:1830 - 13 January 1837
Predecessor:Patrick Kelly
Successor:Nicholas Foran
Consecration:21 March 1830
Birth Place:Glendine, Munster, Ireland
Death Place:Waterford, Munster, Ireland
Buried:Holy Trinity Chapel, Waterford, Munster, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Religion:Roman Catholicism
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Occupation:Priest, Teacher
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Alma Mater:St Patrick's College, Maynooth

William Abraham DD (1792–13 January 1837), was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore.[1] He was born in Glendine, County Cork to Henry Abraham a blacksmith and Margaret Broderick, the family moved to Headborough, County Waterford where Abraham was brought up.[2]

Early life and career

William Abraham studied for the priesthood in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and following ordination he taught in St. John's College, Waterford.

In 1830 he was appointed Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, and consecrated on 21 March 1831 in Waterford.[3] Mount Melleray Abbey was established under his jurisdiction in 1833. As bishop he was unpopular with Irish Nationalists and other Catholic clergy and was seen as favouring British government policy on a number of issues.[4] He even voted for the anti-Catholic emancipation candidate in the famous Stuarts Election.Bishop Abraham died on 13 January 1837. He was succeeded by Nicholas Foran as bishop, Foran having been the favourite to get the bishopric when Abraham was appointed. He is buried in the chapel of the Holy Trinity, Waterford.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bishop William Abraham [Catholic+hierarchy] ].
  2. Book: Power, Patrick . Waterford & Lismore - A Compendious History of the United Dioceses . Cork University Press . 1937 . 23 January 2021.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=4DU_AQAAMAAJ&dq=William+Abraham+%28bishop%29&pg=PA127 "Ecclesiastical department", Gentleman's and Citizen's Almanack, 1837, p. 127
  4. Paul Cardinal Cullen and the Shaping of Modern Irish Catholicism By Desmond Bowen.