James Ussher (1581-1656)

Son of a Dublin lawyer and member of one of Dublin's few native Protestant families, Ussher is a nephew of Richard Stanihurst. A scholar of Trinity College Dublin from its foundation (1594). While a fellow (1599–1605) of TCD, he was ordained (1601). By 1605 he was chancellor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, and rector of Finglas. Professor of Divinity, TCD (1607-21). In 1615 a convocation of clergy called upon him to draft the articles of doctrine and discipline of the Irish Protestant church “Irish Convocation articles”. Vice-Chancellor, TCD (1617). In 1621 he became bishop of Meath and later (1625) archbishop of Armagh. In 1623 he was appointed a privy counsellor by King James. Of Calvinistic tendencies, he defended the Catholic penal laws (1626-7). He often went to England, where he enjoyed association with noted scholars and statesmen. He was there when the Irish rebellion of 1641 broke out, and he never returned to Ireland. Although he refused to sit (1643) in the Westminster Assembly and upheld the doctrine of the divine right of kings, he was in 1647 elected preacher of Lincoln’s Inn. He was offered a pension by Richelieu (c.1649). Through Ussher's tolerance of puritans in Ireland, by Cromwell’s order he was given a state funeral in Westminster Abbey (1656). He is considered the Irish link in the 17th century “republic of letters.” His library was bought by the state in 1656 and placed in TCD (1661) where it remains.

His learning, attested by his numerous works in Latin and English, made him widely respected as a scholar. In his chronological study, the Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti (2 vol., 1650–54), Ussher worked out a system of dates (setting the creation at 4004 B.C.) that was followed for many years to come until disproved in the 19th century.

Links: Armagh Observatory http://star.arm.ac.uk/history/ussher.html (includes portrait)

Works

• Many works, which are included in the collected works edited by C. R. Elrington and J. H. Todd (17 volumes, 1847-1864) [table of contents]
• of immediate interest to CNLS: 1639, "Life of St Patrick" in Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates: Quibus inserta est pestiferae adversus Die gratiam a Pelagio Britanno in ecclesiam inductae hereseos historia ex officina typographica Societatis Bibliopolarum, Dublinii.

— Margaret Lantry

Sources used in compiling this brief biographical sketch were: Dictionary of National Biography and The Oxford Companion to Irish History.

Bibliography

Primary sources

Printed (Latin) works

1. 1613: Gravissimae quaestionis, de Christianarum ecclesiarum, in Occidentis praesertim partibus, ab apostolicis temporibus, ad nostram usq[ue] aetatem, continua successione & statu, historica explicatio. Authore Jacobo Usserio, Sae. Theologiae in Dubliniensi Academia, apud Hibernos, Professore. Quid in tractatus hujus parte, quam jam damus, prima & secunda contineatur, elenchus capitum, operi praefixus, declarabit. Excudebat Bonham Norton, Serenissimae Regiae Maiestatis in Latiis, Graecis & Hebraicis Typographus, Londini
2. 1631: Gotteschalci et praedestinatianae controversiae ab eo motae, historia: Una cum duplice ejusdem Confessione, nunc primum in luce edita. Ex Typographia Societatis Bibliopolarum, Dublinii
3. 1632: Veterum epistolarum hibernicarum sylloge quae partim ab Hibernis, partim ad Hibernos partim de Hibernis vel rebus Hibernicis sunt conscriptae. Iacobvs Vsserivs ... collegit & recensuit. Societas Bibliopolarum, Dublinii
4. 1639: Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates: Quibus inserta est pestiferae adversus Die gratiam a Pelagio Britanno in ecclesiam inductae hereseos historia. Ex Officina Typographica Societatis Bibliopolarum, Dublinii
5. 1644: In Polycarpianam epistolarum Ignatianarum syllogen annotationes; numeris ad marginem interiorem appositis respondentes ... Excudebat Henricus Hall, Oxoniae
6. 1644 [1645]: Polycarpi et Ignatii Epistolae: Una cum vetere vulgata interpretatione Latina, ex trium manuscriptorum codicum collatione integritati suae restituta. Accessit & Ignatiarium Epistolarum versio antiqua alia, ex duobus manuscriptis in Anglia repertis, nunc primum in lucem edita. Quibus praefixa est, non de Ignatii solum & Polycarpi scriptis, sed etiam de Apostolicis Constitutionibus & Canonibus Clementi Romano tributis, Iacobi Vsserii Archiepiscopi Armachani Dissertatio. Excudebat L[eonardus] Lichfield Academiae Typographus, Oxoniae
7. 1647: De Romanae Ecclesiae symbolo apostolico vetere, aliisque fidei formulis, tum ab occidentalibus tum ab orientalibus, in prima catechesi & baptismo proponi solitis, diatriba: accesserunt, I. Athanasii Symbolum, a Graecis interpolatum. II. Symbolum aliud, eidem etiam a quibusdam tributum. III. Hymnus matutinus & vespertinus veteris ecclesiae. IV. Hildeberti Cenomanensis de confessione Trinitatis hymnus, & oratio ad Dominum. Jo. Cassianus. Symbolum ecclesiarum omnium fidem loquitur. Excudebant T. Ratcliffe et E. Mottershed, impensis Johannis Stafford ..., Londini
8. 1648: De Macedonum et Asianorum anno solari dissertatio: cum Graecorum astronomorum parapegmate ad Macedonici et Juliani anni rationes accommodato. typis M. Flesher, & prostant apud Cornelium Bee ..., Londini
9. 1650: Annales veteris testamenti, a prima mundi origine deducti una cum rerum Asiaticarum et Aegyptiacarum chronico, a temporis historici principio usque ad Maccabaicorum initia producto. Ex officina J. Flesher, & prostant apud J. Crook & J. Baker ..., Londini
10. 1652: De textus Hebraici veteris testamenti variantibus lectionibus ad Ludovicum Cappellum epistola. Cui addita est et consimilis argumenti altera, ante annos XLV a Guilielmo Eyrio ad eundem Jacobum data, epistola. typis J. Flesher, impensis J. Crook, & J. Baker ..., Londini
11. 1654: Annalium pars posterior, in qua, praeter Maccabaicam et Novi Testamenti historiam imperii Romanorum caesarum sub C. Julio & Octaviano ortus, rerumque in Asia & Aegypto gestarum continetur chronicon: ab Antiochi Epiphanis regni exordio, usque ad Imperii Vespasiani inita atque extremum Templi & Reipublicae Judaicae excidium deductum. Typis J. Flesher, impensis Johanis Crook: apud quem prostant sub insigni Navis in Coemeterio Paulino, Londini
12. 1655: De Graeca Septuaginta, interpretum versione syntagma: cum libri Estherae editione Origenica, & vetere Graeca altera, ex Arundelliana bibliotheca nunc primum in lucem producta. Accesserunt, ob argumenti cognationem, de Cainane, in Vulgata LXX. editione superaddito, ex ejusdem chronologia sacra nondum edita, dissertatio: una cum ejusdem edita ad Ludovicum Cappellum, de variantibus textis Hebraici lectionibus, anno 1652, et altera a Gulielmo Eyrio ad eundem Jacobum anno 1607 data, epistola. Prostant vaenales apud Johannem Crook: sub insigni navis in Coemeterio Paulino, Londini
13. 1660: Chronologia sacra sive chronologia annorum regum Israelis et Judae, ad calculum redacta et illustrata. Additur, ejusdem authoris, De Romanae Ecclesiae symbolo apostolico vetere, aliisque fidei formulis tum ad Occidentalibus, tum ab Orientalibus in prima catechesi & baptismo proponi solitis, diatriba. typis Guil. Hall ... impensis Rich. Davis, Edw. & Jo. Forrest, Oxoniae
14. 1687: Jacobi Usserii Archiepiscopi Armachani, opuscula duo nunc primum Latine edita quorum alterum est De episcoporum et metropolitanorum origine: alterum De Asia proconsulari. Accessit Veteris Ecclesiae gubernatio patriarchalis; Sententia de Ecclesiae Britannicae privilegiis; De antiqua Ecclesiae Britanicae libertate, ab E.B. descripta; interprete R.R.E.B.P. Praeterea accedit appendix, De antiqua Ecclesiae Brittanicae libertate, et privilegiis. impensis Samuelis Smith ..., Londini
15. 1689: Historia dogmatica controversiae inter orthodoxos & pontificios de scripturis et sacris vernaculis. Nunc primum edita. Accesserunt ejusdem dissertationes II. de pseudo-dionysii scriptis, & de epistola ad Laodicenos; antehac ineditae. Descripsit, digessit, & notis atque auctario locupletavit Henricus Wharton, A.M. Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, a sacris domesticis. typis R.R. impensis Richardi Chiswell ad insigne Rosae Coronatae in Coemeterio D. Pauli, Londini

The collected works, entitled The whole works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, were edited by C. R. Elrington and J. H. Todd (Dublin: Hodges, Smith, 1847-1864). 17 vols.

• Vol. 1: The Life of James Ussher, D.D.
• Vol. 2: incl. De Christianorum Ecclesiarum Successione et Statu historica Explicatio (1613);
• Vol. 3: some works in English;
• Vol. 4: incl. Gotteschalci et Praedestinatione Controversiae abeomotae Historia (1631); Veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge (1632);
• Vol. 5: Brittanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates; caput I-XIII (1639);
• Vol. 6: Brittanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates; caput XIV-XVII (1639);
• Vol. 7: Dissertatio non de Ignati solum et Polycarpi scriptis, sed etiam de Apostolicis Constitutionibus et Canonibus Clementi Romano attributis (1644); Praefationes in Ignatium (1644); De Romanae Ecclesiae Symbolo vetere aliisque Fidei Formulis tum ab Occidentalibus tum ab Orientalibus in prima Catechesi et Baptismo proponi solitis (1647); De Macedonum et Asianorum Anno Solari Dissertatio (1648); De Graeca Septuaginta Interpretum Versione Syntagma, cum Libri Estherae editione Origenica et vetere Graeca altera; Epistola ad Ludovicum Capellum de variantibus Textus Hebraei Lectionibus; Epistola Gulielmi Eyre ad Usserium;
• Vol. 8: Annales veteris Testamenti, a Prima Mundi Origine deducti, una cum Rerum Asiaticarum Aegypticarum Chronico, a temporis historici principio usque ad Maccabaicorum initia producto (1650);
• Vol. 9: Annales veteris Testamenti (contd.);
• Vol. 10: Annales veteris Testamenti (contd.);
• Vol. 11: Annales veteris Testamenti concludes; Annalium Pars Posterior, in qua, praeter Maccabaicam et novi testamenti historiam, Imperii Romanorum Caesarum sub Caio Julio et Octaviano Ortus, rerumque in Asia et Aegypto Gestarum continetur Chronicon ... (1654);
• Vol. 12: Chronologia sacra (1660); Historia Dogmatica Controversiae inter Orthodoxos et Pontificios de Scripturis et Sacris Vernaculis; Dissertatio de Pseudo-Dionysii scriptis; Dissertatio de epistola ad Laodicenses;
• Vol. 13: sermons (in English)
• Vol. 14: Tractatus de Controversiis Pontificiis; Praelectiones Theologicae;
• Vol. 15: letters (in English) (incl. first to Richard Stanihurst, his uncle);
• Vol. 16: letters (in English and Latin);
• Vol. 17: indexes''

Secondary sources

1. Abbott, W. M. (1990) "James Ussher and 'Ussherian' episcopacy, 1640-1656: the primate and his Reduction manuscript" Albion 22
2. Bates, William (1681) Vitae Selectorum Aliquot Virorum Qui Doctrina, Dignitate, aut Pietate inclaruere (Londini: Typis A. G. & J. P. et prostant venales apud Georgium Wells)
3. Bernard, Nicholas (1656) The life & death of the most reverend and learned father of our Church Dr. James Usher, late Arch-Bishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland. Published in a sermon at his funeral at the Abby of Westminster, Aprill 17. 1656. And now re-viewed with some other enlargements (London: printed by E. Tuler, and are to be sold by J. Crook, at the sign of the Ship in St. Pauls Church-yard)
4. Capern, Amanda (1991) "Slipperye times and dangerous dayes": James Ussher and the Calvinist reformation of Britain, 1560-1660. Ph.D. University of New South Wales
5. Carr, James Anderson (1895) The life and times of James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh (London: Gardner, Darton)
6. Day, Maurice Fitzgerald (1861) Archbishop Ussher (born in Dublin A.D. 1580): his life and character a lecture (s.l.: s.n.)
7. Dillingham, William (1700) Vita Laurentii Chadertoni S.T.P. & Collegii Emmanuelis apud Cantabrigienses magistri primi: una cum vita Jacobi Usserii archiepiscopi Armachani, tertiâ ferè parte aucta, quam importuna nimis typographi sestinatio, autori tunc valetudinario transcribendi copiam non permittens, à priore Editione intercluserat (Cantabrigiae: Typis academicis prostant venales apud Tho. Dawson, Bibliop. Cantab. necnon Sam. Smith & Benj. Walford)
8. Dowden, John (1902) A sermon on Ussher Peplographia Dublinensis: memorial discourses preached in the chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, 1895-1902 (London & New York: [printed in Dublin])
9. Elrington, Charles Richard (1847) The whole works of the most Rev. James Ussher, D.D. now for the first time collected with a life of the author, and an account of his writings (Dublin: Hodges & Smith). 17 vols. Repr. 1864
10. Elrington, C. R. (1848) The life of the Most Rev. James Ussher, D. D., Lord Abp. of Armagh, and primate of all Ireland. With an account of his writings (Dublin: Hodges & Smith)
11. Elrington, C. R. (1849) An answer to Dr. Reid's animadversions upon The life of Archbishop Ussher (Dublin: Hodges & Smith; London: John W. Parker)
12. Ford, Alan (1999) "James Ussher and the Godly Prince in early seventeenth-century Ireland" in Political Ideology in Ireland, 1541-1641, ed. Morgan, Hiram (Dublin: Four Courts Press), pp. 203-28
13. Giblin, Cathaldus (1956) "Aegidius Chaissy, O.F.M., and James Ussher" Irish Ecclesiastical Record June
14. Gordon, Alexander "James Ussher" Dictionary of National Biography
15. Knox, Robert Buick (1960) "Ussher and the Church of Ireland" Church Quarterly Review Apr.-Jun.
16. Knox, R. B. (1962) "The English Civil War: Archbishop Ussher and His Circle" London Quarterly & Holborn Review January
17. Knox, R. B. (1963) "A Caroline Trio: Ussher, Laud and Williams" Church Quarterly Review Oct.-Dec.
18. Knox, R. B. (1967) James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh (Cardiff: University of Wales Press)
19. Lewis, John (1739) "A Defence of Ussher" A Complete History of the several Translations of the Holy Bible
20. O'Sullivan, William (1993) "Correspondence of David Rothe and James Ussher, 1619-23" Collectanea Hibernica pp.7-49
21. Parr, Richard (1686) The life of the Most Reverend Father in God, James Usher, late Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh, primate and metropolitan of all Ireland. With a collection of three hundred letters, between the said Lord Primate and most of the eminentest persons for piety and learning in his time, both in England and beyond the seas (London: printed for N. Ranew)
22. Pearson, A. F. S. (1951) "Alumni of St Andrews" Ulster Journal of Archaeology, XIV
23. Phillips, Walter Alison, ed. (1933-34) History of the Church of Ireland, from the earliest times to the present day (London: Oxford University Press) 3 vols.
24. Reid, James Seaton (1849) Seven letters to the Rev. C. R. Elrington, occasioned by his animadversions in his Life of Ussher, on certain passages in the History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (Glasgow: Ogle)
25. Stanihurst, Richard (1615) Brevis praemunitio pro futura concertatione cum Jacobo Usserio ... qui in sua historica explicatione conatur probare, Pontificem Romanum ... verum & germanum esse Antichristum (Douai: Ex typographia Baltazaris Belleri)
26. Sykes, Norman (1957) "James Ussher as Churchman" Theology February and March
27. Watson, E. W. (1902) "James Usher" Typical English churchmen from Parker to Maurice; a series of lectures, ed. W. E. Collins (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; New York: E & J. B. Young)