Lot Essay
Robert Clayton was born in Dublin in 1695, the eldest of eight children of Dr. Robert Clayton, minister of St. Michael's Dublin and Dean of Kildare. After attending Westminster School, he entered Trinity College completeing his Doctorate of Divinity in 1730. Clayton was to become Bishop of Killala and Achonry in 1729-1730 and by 1745 to Clogher. His work 'Essay on Spirit' caused great controversy within Ireland as he called for the removal of the Nicene and Athanasian creeds from the Church of Ireland's liturgy, so much so that the Duke of Dorset refused to appoint Clayton to the Archbishopric of Tuam when it became vacant. Clayton died suddenly on 26th February 1758 before proceedings begun to silence him over his beliefs. He is buried at the old churchyard, Donnybrook, co. Dublin.