William Conyngham Plunket, 4th Baron Plunket

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William Conyngham Plunket, 4th Baron Plunket (August 26, 1828) - (April 1, 1897) was a Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin. Born in Dublin, he was educated at Cheltenham College and Trinity College Dublin before being appointed chaplain and private secretary to his uncle, the Bishop of Tuam, in 1857, a post he held for seven years. The following year, he became Rector of Kilmoyan and Cummer in County Galway, and in 1863 he married Anne Lee Guinness, daughter of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. In 1864, he returned to Dublin as Treasurer of St Patrick's Cathedral, of which he was appointed Preceptor in 1869.

In 1876, Lord Plunket (as he became on succeeding his father in 1871) was consecrated Bishop of Meath, and in 1884 he was finally appointed Archbishop of Dublin, an office he held until his death. He was Dean of Christchurch Cathedral from 1884 until 1887, and received an honorary degree from Cambridge University in 1888. He also served as a Commissioner of Education from 1895 onwards, and was a senator of the Royal University of Ireland.

His wife having precedeased him in 1889, Lord Plunket died aged 68 in Dublin, where he was buried. His statue may be seen in Kildare_Street,_Dublin near Leinster House.

Preceded by:
Richard Chevenix Trench

Archbishop of Dublin
1884-1897

Followed by:
Joseph Ferguson Peacocke

Preceded by:
John Span Plunket

Baron Plunket

Followed by:
William Lee Plunket