10 Facts About Hugh Boulter

Hugh Boulter was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, from 1724 until his death.

Hugh Boulter served as the chaplain to George I from 1719.

In 1719 Hugh Boulter was announced as the successor to George Smalridge as both the Dean of Christ Church and as the Bishop of Bristol.

Hugh Boulter was controversially offered the primacy of the Church of Ireland in 1724, William King, who as Archbishop of Dublin was the natural successor to the title, being passed over due to his opposition to the Toleration Act, although the official reason was his age.

Hugh Boulter did not always get his own way on judicial appointments: the Dublin-born John Rogerson was made Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1727, over strong objections from Boulter, who apart from the question of nationality, disliked him personally.

Hugh Boulter's policy was to leave the Roman Catholics in Ireland subjected to penal legislation.

Hugh Boulter's actions were often viewed with suspicion by the people of Ireland, including Jonathan Swift.

Hugh Boulter did much good work in trying to alleviate the Great Irish Famine.

Hugh Boulter supported the setting up of the charter school system, "to teach the children of the papists the English tongue, and the principles of the Christian religion", as long as they converted to Protestantism.

Hugh Boulter was responsible for forcing through a bill that revalued the price of gold in 1738, to the benefit of the poor.