USHER, JAMES, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH
Arms.—Impaled.
Dexter: Az., an archiepiscopal staff, headed with a cross pattée or, over all a pall arg., charged with 3 crosses pattée fitchée sa. See of Armagh.
Sinister: Az., a chevron erm., between 3 batons or. Usher.
[Usher. Britannicae Ecclesiae Antiquitates. Dublin, 1639.]
James Usher (born 4th January 1580, died 21st March 1656) was the son of Arnold Usher, Clerk of the Irish Court of Chancery. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1601 he took orders, and became a preacher of much note. In 1620 Dr. Usher was made Bishop of Meath and Clonmacnoise, and in 1624 he was consecrated Archbishop of Armagh.
Archbishop Usher wrote several very important theological works, and he took part in all the controversies of his time. He was a divine of much learning and a great scholar. His extensive library is for the greater part in Trinity College, Dublin, where it was sent as a gift by Charles II.
