CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
county of Suffolk, in 1703, and earl of Bristol in 1714. He was bora in 1730 ; educated at Mr. 
Newcomb’s school, at Hackney; admitted of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1747, where he 
took no degree, but the honorary one of D. D. was conferred on him by mandamus. He was ap¬ 
pointed chaplain in ordinary to the king, and principal clerk of the privy seal, which office he resigned 
in February, 1 767, on being promoted to the bishopric of Cloyne. This dignity was conferred on 
him, while his brother George, 2nd earl of Bristol, was viceroy of Ireland, and on the 30th of 
January, in the year following, he was translated to the see of Derry, and appointed a privy 
councillor of Ireland. On the death of his brother Augustus John, 3rd earl of Bristol, in 
1779, he succeeded to that title. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Jermyn Davers, of 
Rushbroolc, in Suffolk, Bart., who died at Ickworth, Suffolk, December 19th, 1800, by whom he 
had issue two sons—John, who succeeded him in the title, and Augustus John ; and two daughters 
—Mary, married to John Lord Erne, and Elizabeth, married to John Thomas Foster, Esq. The 
latter years of lord Bristol’s life were spent in continental travel, and he died at Albano, near 
Rome, of a severe attack of gout, in his 73d year. 
The political character of this very remarkable man belongs to the general history of his 
time, and it is only necessary to remark here, that in the memorable political events connected with 
the Irish volunteers, in which he played so conspicuous a part, the city and county of Dery very 
strongly felt the influence of his rank and talents. In private life he was no less distinguished for 
refined taste in literature and art, than for the possession of many Christian virtues, among which 
those of humanity, charity, and liberality were not the least conspicuous ; and as a bishop, he 
was a zealous promoter of every thing tending to the good of his see, and the advantage of the 
city and county in general. To his taste and munificence the city and county owe many of their 
chief architectural embellishments. He nearly rebuilt the palace, and contributed largely to the 
erection of a spire and other improvements to the cathedral, and many of the parish churches are 
similarly adorned or newly built under his patronage and by his assistance. The gorgeous collec¬ 
tions of pictures, statues, books, &c., with which he filled the princely residences erected by him 
at Downhill and Ballyscullion, abundantly testified the justness of the character awarded to him as 
the greatest patron of the arts in Europe in his time. But he left after him a memorial still nobler, 
less perishable, and more worthy of a Christian bishop, the memory of his singular humanity and 
universal benevolence. 
William Knox, D. D., succeeded 1803, died 1831. This very distingished prelate, who 
was the 3rd son of the late lord viscount Northland, was born on the 13th of June, 1761. He 
was educated in , and received holy orders in 
His first employment in the church was as curate in the city of Limerick, and having been 
soon after appointed chaplain to the Irish house of commons, he was recommended by that body to 
the lord lieutenant for preferment. He accordingly obtained the union of Callan in the county 
of Kilkenny, jvhere his memory is still cherished, as well for his kindness and hospitality, as for 
his exertions in building and establishing a poor school on a very extended scale, and for other 
efforts to ameliorate the condition of the poor. He was appointed to the bishopric of Kilfenora in 
1794, and presided over that see for nine years. It was during this period that a society, consist¬ 
ing of the most distinguished men of that day, was formed “ for promoting the comforts of the 
poor.” The bishop was one of its most active members, and a paper written by him, and 
published among' their transactions by the society, on the utility and management of dis¬ 
pensaries, poor schools, and schools of industry, contained most valuable practical details on 
matters which, though so interesting, were not then very generally attended to or understood. 
His translation to the see of Derry gave him a wider field, and more ample means, to exer¬ 
cise that munificent philanthropy, which was the distinguishing characteristic of his mind. 
He succeeded a bishop, who, though of princely munificence, did not, in consequence of his ab¬ 
sence from Ireland during the latter years of his life, take that active interest in the welfare of the 
church which might otherwise have been justly expected from him ; and therefore Dr. Knox, on 
his arrival in Derry, found a neglected diocese, and a “ cathedral in ruins.” He immediately contri¬ 
buted £1000 towards its repairs, and subsequently added £2000 more towards its internal adornment, 
and the erection of the present spire. He also made gifts of £1000 and £100 per annum, to the 
diocesan school, and £400 and £20 per annum, to the poor school. His lordship established yet 
further claims on.public gratitude by founding the charitable loan, to which he largely contributed, 
and for which in the pulpit he most effectually pleaded. The mendicity association also was chiefly 
indebted to him for its origin, and owes much of the success of its efforts to his fostering care and 
large pecuniary contributions. Indeed, there is scarely one of the numerous public institutions 
of Derry of which he might not he called the parent, while his private charities were no less ex¬ 
tensive, well-timed, and munificent. As a bishop, Dr. Knox was eminently entitled to respect and 
admiration, and was generally loved by his clergy, for though he never compromised the duties of 
his high office, he yet governed with a mild and paternal hand, encouraged zeal, fostered piety, 
and rewarded talent. The number of churches and glebe-houses built during his presidency 
