Joseph Ferguson Peacocke

Joseph Ferguson Peacocke (5 November 1835 – 26 May 1916) was a Church of Ireland cleric. He was the Bishop of Meath from 1894 to 1897 and then Archbishop of Dublin from 1897 until 1915. He was also briefly the professor of pastoral theology at Trinity College, Dublin.

Early life Born at Abbeyleix, Queen's County (now County Laois), Peacocke was the son of George Peacocke, who was a physician at Longford, and of his wife Catherine Ferguson. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, he graduated BA in 1857 with a first-class divinity testimonium. He was senior moderator in history and English literature in 1856 and won that year's Dublin University prize for political economy.

Career Peacocke was ordained a deacon in 1858 and a priest of the Church of Ireland in 1859. He was curate at St Mary's, Kilkenny, from 1858 until 1861, then for two years took up the position of secretary to the Hibernian Church Missionary Society. He was on the evangelical wing of the church and believed especially in foreign missions and in the Church Missionary Society. From 1863 until 1873, he was curate of Monkstown Church, County Dublin. in 1873 he was appointed rector of St. George's Church, Dublin, a significant parish. In 1878 he returned to Monkstown as rector and remained until he was elected a bishop. He became a canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1883, and for a few months in 1894 he held the professorship of pastoral theology in Trinity College. On 19 May 1897, he was translated to become archbishop of Dublin

Likeness A portrait in oils of Peacocke by Philip de László (working sketch illustrated) was presented to him by the diocese and is now to be seen in the bishop's palace at Dublin.