Life
1660-1745 [also Stearne]; vicar of Trim, dean of St. Patrick’s, bishop
of Clogher; friend of Swift, his successor at St. Patrick’s; Swift’s
letters full of friendly allusions; 1721, Vice Chancellor to Dublin University;
presented £1,000, for erection of Printing House, TCD; endowed the Blue
Coat School and bequeathed money for Swift’s hospital in his will;
issued Tractatus de Visitatione Infirmorum (Dublin 1697; London
1700), later translated as The Curate’s Manual (London 1740);
reprinted as Clergyman’s Instructor (1807, 1813); presented
important collection of Irish MSS to TCD Library in 1741; Jonathan Swift
whose letters are full of friendly allusions to him; bequeathed his collection
of books to Marsh’s Library; there is an oil portrait by Thomas Carlton
in the Provost’s House (TCD). ODNB DIW
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Notes
The Church of S. Werburgh Dublin, by S. C. Hughes (1899) gives
notice of John Stearne, DD, Chancellor of that Church, 1702-04, and son
of the above who was MD, FTCD, Medicus, first Hebrew Lecturer, first Pres.
of College of Physicians. The younger grad. TCD 1678, Prebendary of Donaghmore,
1679, Rector of Stahalmack, 1682; Strokestown, 1685, Clonmacduffe, 1692,
Killary, 1703; Chancellor, 1702, Dean [of Werburgh’s] 1704; also
holding Parish of Nicholas Without; bishop of Dromore Ap. 25 1713, Clogher,
1717; Vice-Chancellor of University, 1721-43; d. at 85 in 1745; benefactions
to University, Steevens’ Hosp. King’s Hospital Sch,; contribution
to building of S. Werburgh’s and bequeathed £80 for catechist in
the parishes of S. Werburgh and S. Nicholas Without.
Charity boy: The school erected at Middleton, Co. Tyrone, in 1833 was administered by the Charities of Dr. Stearne [?idem].
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