William Connor Magee

Born in Cork in 1821, William Connor Magee studied at Trinity College Dublin and was ordained in the Church of Ireland. He first drew wide attention as a preacher, admired for the force and clarity of his speaking, and his reputation helped carry him into senior church leadership.

Magee later served as Bishop of Peterborough and then Bishop of London before becoming Archbishop of York in 1891. He was known for taking part in the big public arguments of his time, especially questions about faith, reason, and the role of the church in modern life.

Although his final year as Archbishop of York was brief, he left a lasting impression as a churchman who could combine learning with direct, memorable speech. He died in 1891, the same year he took up York's highest office.