Ralph Lambert


Ralph Lambert was an Irish Anglican priest in the first half of the 18th century.

Life

He was the son of George Lambert, and was born in Co. Louth.
Lambert was a contemporary of Jonathan Swift at Trinity College, Dublin. He became Swift's rival, and took the post of chaplain to Thomas Wharton, 1st Earl of Wharton, when Wharton became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in 1709. He was Dean of Down from 1709 until 1717; Bishop of Dromore from 1717 until 1727; and Bishop of Meath from 1726 until 1731. He was one of a group of Low Church, reforming clergy around William King, that included also Theophilus Bolton, John Stearne, and Edward Synge.

Works

Lambert married twice. His first wife Sarah died in 1707; she was the daughter of Smythe Kelly. In 1716 he married Elizabeth Rowley of Clonmethan. His daughter Elizabeth married Arthur Dillon and was mother of Sir John Talbot Dillon, 1st Baronet. Another daughter married William Smyth, Dean of Ardfert, eldest son of Thomas Smyth.