Gideon Ouseley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24 February 1762 (1762-02-24) Dunmore, Galway |
| Died | 13 May 1839 (1839-05-14) (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Methodist missionary in Ireland |
Gideon Ouseley (24 February 1762 – 13 May 1839)[1] was born into anAnglican gentry family inDunmore, County Galway.[2]
His father, although adeist, intended that his son enter the clergy,[1] but Ouseley spent much of hischildhood in the cabins of peasant neighbours.[3] He was tutored with his cousinsGore andWilliam, and all three had notable careers.[4]
Married at age 20, Ouseley led a wild life that dissipated both his own and his wife's fortunes. After losing an eye when shot in atavern brawl, a loss that reputedly left him with a frightening appearance,[3] Ouseley left his wild ways behind him. In 1791 he was converted toMethodism by English soldiers stationed in Dunmore,[5] and he set out in turn, to convert and reform others. Ouseley preached the gospel, mostly inUlster, until his death, preaching up to 20 sermons a week.[1] His knowledge of theIrish language and ofpeasant mores— not to mention his eccentric preaching astride awhitehorse— won him renown as Methodism's 'apostle to the Irish'.[3]
Oliver St. John Gogarty wrote an autobiographical novelTumbling in the Hay and two plays under the pseudonym Gideon Ouseley,A Serious Thing andThe Enchanted Trousers.[6]
The writerJohn Mulvey Ousley was of a later generation of the same family.[7]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
 | This biographical article about a person in connection withChristianity is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
