Robert Dawson was an Anglican bishop in Ireland in the 17th century.Ware, Sir James (1705). The Antiquities and History of IrelandFryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 350–351. .Wiseman, W G (1990). Robert Dawson (1589-1643) Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh. Published by Academic Journal Offprint from - Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society, Volume XC He was born in Kendal, England, in 1589 and was educated at Sedbergh School, Sedbergh. He graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge in 1609 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and in 1612 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).Harris, Walter (1739). The Whole Works of Sir James Ware concerning Ireland, Volume 1 The Rt. Rev. Robert Dawson was appointed Chaplain to Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland, the Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1622.Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. Burke's Irish Family Records. London, U.K.: Burkes Peerage Ltd, 1976thepeerage.com He became Dean of Dromore on 9 July 1623 and Dean of Down on 25 November 1623. After Roland Lynch died in 1625 the See of Clonfert was united with that of Kilmacduagh and Dawson was its inaugural incumbent, he served from 4 May 1627 until his death on 13 April 1643.
Family life Dawson had six children: Rowland, Matthew, Randal, Margery, Bridget and Robert. Dawson's brother, Thomas, bought land in County Londonderry in 1633 which became the town of Castledawson, founded in 1710 by Thomas' great-grandson Joshua Dawson MP.
Death Dawson fled Ireland to his birthplace due to the Irish Rebellion in 1641 and died on 13 April 1643 in Kendal.Mant, Richard. History of the Church Ireland (1839–1841; 2 vols). John W. Parker, London. Vol. 1, p.564.
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