Patrick Russell

Who was Patrick Russell?

Patrick Russell was Archbishop of Dublin from August 1683 till his death. He was a native of Rush, County Dublin. A Compendium of Irish Biography says of him:

"He could with difficulty exercise his functions in public, and was frequently obliged to conceal himself amongst his relatives at Rush. After James II.'s accession he held several synods for arranging the shattered affairs of the Church, and through his influence the King was induced to settle £200 per annum out of the Irish revenues upon the Catholic bishops. During James's residence in Dublin the Archbishop took a prominent part in public affairs. After the battle of the Boyne he was tracked to his concealment in the country, and cast into prison, and lingered in a filthy underground cell until 14th July 1692, when death put an end to his sufferings."