Plunket, Oliver

Plunket, Oliver an Irish Roman Catholic prelate, was born in 1629 at the castle of Rathmore, county of Meath, of a good Irish family. He completed his studies at Rome, was a professor of theology in that city, and finally elevated to the twofold dignity of archbishop of Armagh and primate of Ireland (1669). His zeal having aroused against him the suspicions of the Protestants, he fell a victim to the violent reaction of Toryism which took place in 1681. Accused of conspiracy against the court, he was arrested, carried to London, and sentenced to death by a fanatical jury. In vain four successive governors of Ireland testified to his loyalty; the court did not even await the arrival of his witnesses, and his means of defense could be produced in London only three days after his execution, which took place July 1, 1681, at Tyburn. He left a Collection of Episcopal Circulars and Pastoral Letters (Lond. 1686, 2 vols. 4to). See Bp. Burnet, Hist. of his Own Times, 2, 279. (J. H.W.)