John George de la Poer

Born in Dublin in 1773, Beresford was educated in England before returning to Ireland to join the clergy. In 1829 he became vice-chancellor of the university of Dublin; he succeeded to the chancellorship in 1851. He was a generous benefactor of the university, presenting the Book of Armagh to the library, funding the building of a campanile in Front Square, and endowing a chair of ecclesiastical history. He also contributed to the foundation of St Columba’s College, near Stackallan, Co. Meath (opened in 1844 as a school for the gentry of Ireland on the model of Eton), and to the Royal School, Armagh. He largely financed the restoration of Armagh cathedral (reopened in 1840), and contributed liberally to the augmentation of clerical stipends, while during the tithe war of the 1830s his generosity saved many clergy and their families from starvation. He was a conservative in politics, supporting the Church Education Society – the Church of Ireland response to the system of national education – and opposing the Roman Catholic relief bill of 1829, against which he spoke in the house of lords. His speech on that occasion, together with one on national education, a sermon, a charge to the clergy of Armagh, and a letter on the church discipline bill, are his only publications. He died unmarried.