Cornelius Denvir
Encyclopedia
The Most Reverend Cornelius Denvir D.D.
(1791–1865) was an Irish
Roman Catholic Prelate
, mathematician, natural philosopher (physicist) and former Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.
in County Down
in 1791 and was educated as a young boy in Dr Nelsons 'classical school' in Downpatrick
. He entered Maynooth College
in 1808 and was ordained in 1814. After doctoral
studies he taught Natural Philosophy
and Mathematics
at Maynooth
. Among his students at Maynooth was the inventor and physicist Fr. Nicholas Callan
, whom he introduced to electricity and magnetism. He also taught the noted physician Sir Dominic Corrigan
Bart., MD, MP, who was a student of the lay college in Maynooth at the time.
He became Parish Priest of Downpatrick
in 1825. He became Professor
at the New Down and Connor Diocesan College
which was situated in Belfast
in 1833. He took the higher classes in Latin
, Greek
and Mathematics
but retained his duties as P.P. in Downpatrick
and returned there on horseback every weekend.
He was appointed 22nd Lord Bishop of Down and Connor in 1835 to succeed Dr William Crolly
who had been appointed Archbishop of Armagh. He appointed Rev. Dr Patrick Dorrian
as Coadjutor Bishop
of Down and Connor in 1860. Bishop Dorrian succeed him to the see in 1865 when Dr Denvir died in 1865.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(1791–1865) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Roman Catholic Prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, mathematician, natural philosopher (physicist) and former Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.
Career
Dr Denvir was born in BallywalterBallywalter
Ballywalter is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the east coast of the Ards Peninsula between Donaghadee and Ballyhalbert...
in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
in 1791 and was educated as a young boy in Dr Nelsons 'classical school' in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
. He entered Maynooth College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
in 1808 and was ordained in 1814. After doctoral
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
studies he taught Natural Philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
. Among his students at Maynooth was the inventor and physicist Fr. Nicholas Callan
Nicholas Callan
Father Nicholas Joseph Callan was an Irish priest and scientist from Darver, Co. Louth, Ireland. He was Professor of Natural Philosophy in Maynooth College near Dublin from 1834, and is best known for his work on the induction coil....
, whom he introduced to electricity and magnetism. He also taught the noted physician Sir Dominic Corrigan
Dominic Corrigan
Sir Dominic Corrigan was a physician, known for his original observations in heart disease. The abnormal "collapsing" pulse of aortic valve insufficiency is named Corrigan's pulse after him.-Birth and Education:The son of a dealer in agricultural tools, Corrigan was educated in St...
Bart., MD, MP, who was a student of the lay college in Maynooth at the time.
He became Parish Priest of Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
in 1825. He became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the New Down and Connor Diocesan College
St. Malachy's College
St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the...
which was situated in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1833. He took the higher classes in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
but retained his duties as P.P. in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
and returned there on horseback every weekend.
He was appointed 22nd Lord Bishop of Down and Connor in 1835 to succeed Dr William Crolly
William Crolly
William Crolly was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh from 1835 to 1849....
who had been appointed Archbishop of Armagh. He appointed Rev. Dr Patrick Dorrian
Patrick Dorrian
The Most Reverend Patrick Dorrian D.D. was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate and 23rd Lord Bishop of Down and Connor.-Career:Dorrian was born in Downpatrick on 29 March 1814 and was educated in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he was ordained in 1833...
as Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Down and Connor in 1860. Bishop Dorrian succeed him to the see in 1865 when Dr Denvir died in 1865.