About William Preston
Lived 1729 – 1789 (aged 59–60). William Preston was an anglican priest.
William Preston, D.D. ( – ) was an Irish Anglican bishop.
Life William Preston was the son of John Preston of Hincaster, Westmorland, by his third wife Ann.
Preston spent some time as a chaplain to Philip Yonge, the bishop of Norwich. He then went to Vienna, as chaplain to Lord Stormont. He acted as the British chargé d'affaires in Naples, where he had moved for his health, in the absence of Sir William Hamilton. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1778.
After becoming chaplain and secretary to Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland, Preston was nominated as Bishop of Killala and Achonry on 13 October 1784, and consecrated on 11 November that year. Translated to Ferns and Leighlin on 9 November 1787, he died in Dublin on 19 April 1789 and was buried at Ferns Cathedral.
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Important facts
People in William Preston's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Preston's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Preston?
Anglican bishop
When was William Preston born?
William Preston was born in 1729.
When did William Preston die?
William Preston died on 19 April 1789.
What was William Preston's occupation?
William Preston was an anglican priest.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: William Preston (bishop)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Preston. https://biography.guide/william-preston/
MLA: "William Preston." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-preston/.
Chicago: "William Preston." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-preston/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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