Madam, - Mary Mulvihill is to be commended for bringing some of Ireland's lesser-known scientific personalities to light (September 25th). It is unfortunate that Archbishop Ussher is now really only known for his calculations on the date of Creation.
During the 17th century he was an influential figure in the public life of both Ireland and Britain. His reputation as a scholar also extended further afield - Cardinal Richelieu offered him a pension if he would move to France in 1649, after the bishoprics had been swept aside during the Commonwealth.
His interest in early history was not just about Creation - he strove to demonstrate the independence of the Irish church from both Rome and Canterbury, based on its descent from St Patrick. As a good scholar he knew the importance of appealing to primary sources, accumulating a large collection of manuscripts in the process - during his researches he actually acquired the Book of Kells, which subsequently passed to Trinity College.
Ussher was buried in Westminster Abbey, not Westminster Cathedral, as Mulvihill writes. Interestingly, Cromwell directed that his funeral service should be conducted according to Anglican rites, the only occasion when this happened in the Abbey during the Commonwealth period, as the rites of the Anglican church had been officially abolished. - Yours, etc.,
H. A. GRANT, Rathmines, Dublin 6