William Palmer

1803-1885. Theologian and ecclesiastical antiquary. A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen, Oxford, he became a fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. In 1832 he wrote Origines Liturgicae, a learned treatise on the history of English liturgy. This brought him into touch with Keble,* Froude,* J.H. Newman,* and other Tractarian leaders. He was a rigid High Churchman and a doughty controversialist, who strongly opposed both Roman Catholicism and Dissent, and wrote against Cardinal Wiseman and others. His Narrative of Events connected with the Publication of Tracts for the Times precipitated the crisis which led to the secession of W.G. Ward and Newman from the Anglican Church. He was prebendary of Salisbury, 1849-58, and assumed the title of baronet on his father's death in 1865.