Successor Robert Downes | In office 1747–1752 Nationality English Name Philip Twysden Consecration March 29, 1747 | |
Province Anglican Province of Armagh | ||
Philip Twysden, M.A., D.C.L. (c. 1714–1752) was an Anglican prelate who served in the Church of Ireland as the Bishop of Raphoe from 1747 to 1752. The circumstances of his death later became the subject of rumour.
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Early life and family
He was born in Kent, England in circa 1714, the third son of Sir William Twysden, 5th Baronet of Roydon Hall, East Peckham, Kent, by his wife and distant cousin Jane Twisden. He was educated at University College, Oxford, from where awarded with a Master of Arts degree, and later with the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law.
He married twice: firstly to Mary Purcell (died 1743) and secondly to Frances Carter, daughter of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Carter. By his second wife, he had two children: Mary (died in infancy) and a posthumously daughter Frances (1753–1821), who was one of the many mistresses of King George IV when he was Prince of Wales.
Ecclesiastical career
He was ordained in the Anglican ministry and for a short time served as the Rector of Ealing. Afterwards, he became the chaplain to Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Twysden was nominated the Bishop of Raphoe by King George II on 28 February 1747 and consecrated at St Michan's Church, Dublin on 29 March 1747.
Death
He died on 2 November 1752. A story grew up that, having been made bankrupt, he was shot and killed while attempting to rob a stagecoach. The location of his allegedly attempted career as a highwayman was either Hounslow Heath (west of London) or Wrotham Heath in Kent. However, according to Cotton, he died at Roydon Hall, East Peckham, his father's country house. His remains were buried in the south chancel of St Michael's Church, East Peckham, under a plain stone without any inscription.