James Ussher Irish Anglican archbishop, theologian Date of Birth: 04.01.1581 Country: Ireland

1. James Ussher: Early Life and Career
2. Episcopate and Archbishopric
3. Exile and Scholarly Work
4. Biblical Chronology
5. Dating Creation
6. Other Historical Studies
7. Legacy
8. Death and Burial

James Ussher: Early Life and Career

James Ussher was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1581. He received his education at Trinity College, Dublin, and became ordained as an Anglican priest in 1601. In 1606, he was appointed professor of theology at Trinity College, a position he held for several years.

Episcopate and Archbishopric

In 1621, Ussher was consecrated as Bishop of Meath, and in 1625, he became Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of the Church of Ireland. As archbishop, Ussher played a prominent role in the suppression of Roman Catholicism in Ireland.

Exile and Scholarly Work

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Ussher was deposed from his position and fled to London, where he remained for the rest of his life. In exile, Ussher devoted himself to scholarly pursuits, establishing himself as one of the most distinguished scholars of his time.

Biblical Chronology

Ussher is best known for his work on biblical chronology. He attempted to establish a comprehensive chronological framework for the events recorded in the Bible, correlating biblical data with information from other sources. Using scientific methods, he calculated the dates of all major events mentioned in the Bible, including the date of creation itself.

Dating Creation

Ussher's most famous calculation was the date of creation, which he placed on Sunday, October 23, 4004 BC. His methodology, known as the "Ussher-Lightfoot dating system," relied on strict biblical chronology and the assumption that the Jewish text of the Bible was authoritative.

Other Historical Studies

In addition to his work on biblical chronology, Ussher also studied the history of the early Irish church. He published a treatise on the subject in 1631, arguing that the early Irish church differed from Catholicism and resembled the Protestant Reformation. Ussher also compiled a comprehensive history of the British churches in his 1639 work, "Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates."

Legacy

James Ussher's scholarly contributions were highly influential in their time. His work on biblical chronology was widely accepted for centuries, and his historical studies laid the foundation for further research on the early Irish church. Today, Ussher's writings continue to be studied and debated by scholars.

Death and Burial

Ussher died in London in 1656 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Despite his earlier opposition to Irish Catholicism, he was honored with a library and a professorship at Trinity College, Dublin, named after him.