William Coppinger

Bishop William Coppinger (1753-1830) was an Irish Catholic priest, who served as Bishop of Cloyne and Ross, from 1791 until his death. Born in County Cork, the son of Stephen Coppinger, he trained as a priest in the Irish College, Paris, (at the time, under the penal laws, there was no Catholic Seminaries or Colleges in Ireland). He returned to Ireland becoming a curate, and parish priest in Cork.

As Bishop of Cloyne and Ross, Dr. Coppigner, served as a trustee of Maynooth College on its establishment.

An opponent of the United Irishmens 1798 rebellion, due to anti-religion ethos of the French Revolution which inspired it. He stood up for the rights of Catholics, in opposing the 1800 Act of Union, and tithes tenant farmers were forced to pay. Bishop Coppinger supported Daniel O'Connells, Catholic Association, whose methods he approved of.

Bishop Coppinger died on 9 August 1831 and was buried in Cobh cathedral, Co. Cork. He was succeeded as bishop of Cloyne and Ross by his coadjutor, Michael Collins.

Publications

Dr. Coppinger was a noted author and translator and a publisher of papers and pamphlets.

• Imitation of Christ, translated William Coppinger, (1795)
• Life of Nano Nagle, by William Coppinger, (1794)
• Monita pastoralia, by William Coppinger, (1821)