Parker, John (2)

Parker, John an Irish prelate, was born in Dublin, and was made a petty canon of St. Patrick's in 1642. He was subsequently prebendary of St. Michan's and dean of Killala, whereupon he took his degree of bachelor of divinity in Trinity College, Dublin. He was chaplain to the marquis (afterwards duke) of Ormond. In 1649 he was cast into prison by Cromwell, on suspicion of having been employed as a spy by the marquis, who was then laboring to restore Dublin to the king. On his release he was promoted to the bishopric of Elphin, whence he was translated, in 1667, to Tuam, and in 1678 to the archdiocese of Dublin. With his sees he held in commendam the rectory of Gallowne, the treasurership of St. Patrick's, Dublin, and the prebend of Desertmore, in the church of St. Finbar, in the diocese of Cork. He died December 28, 1681. See D'Alton, Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin, page 283.