Lindsay, Thomas (1656-03-28 - 1724-07-13)

Thomas Lindsay (Lindsey, Lyndesay) was born in Blandford Forum, Dorset to John Lindsey (d.1680), vicar of Blandford Forum, and his wife Mary Clark (d.1680). He was educated at Blandform grammar school before matriculating from Wadham College, Oxford in 1673. He graduated B.A. in 1676, proceeded M.A. in 1678/9, and was made a fellow in 1679; he became dean of the college in 1684 and bursar in 1689. He was made rector of Woolwich, Surrey in 1684, but left for Ireland as the chaplain to Henry, Lord Capell in 1693. With Capell as lord deputy, Lindsay was preferred to the deanery of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin in 1694 and to the bishopric of Killaloe the following year. Lindsay was politically active and won a reputation as an ardent tory in the House of Lords. In 1712 he was appointed to the Irish privy council and was preferred to the bishopric of Raphoe in 1713. He was consecrated archbishop of Armagh in 1714, a position that also led to his appointment as a lord justice. Lindsay fell ill from a paralytic attack in 1720 and remained in poor health until his death on 13 July 1724. His funeral was held at Christ Church in Dublin.