Background
Born in Dublin, he was the eldest son of John Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket and Charlotte Bushe.
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William Conyngham
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Plunket was educated at Cheltenham College and Trinity College, Dublin before being appointed chaplain and private secretary to his uncle, the Bishop of Tuam, in 1857, a post he held for seven years.
Career
The following year, he became Rector of Kilmoyan and Cummer in County Galway. In 1864, he returned to Dublin as Treasurer of Street Patrick"s Cathedral, of which he was appointed Preceptor in 1869. In 1876, Lord Plunket (as he became on succeeding his father in 1871) was consecrated Bishop of Meath, and in 1884 he was finally appointed Archbishop of Dublin, an office he held until his death.
Plunket received an honorary degree from Cambridge University in 1888.
He also served as a Commissioner of Education from 1895 onwards, and was a senator of the Royal University of Ireland. Their son William was to have a successful career in government administration.
Another son, Benjamin, served as Bishop of Meath and was the father of Olive, Countess Fitzwilliam. His statue near Leinster House in Kildare Street, Dublin is a landmark.
