William Cowper (Dean of Sydney)

William Macquarie Cowper (known in his youth as Macquarie; 3 July 1810 – 14 June 1902) was an Australian Anglican archdeacon and dean of Sydney.

Cowper was born in Sydney, the son of Rev. William Cowper, D.D., assistant colonial chaplain, and his second wife Ann, née Barrell . Educated by his father and at the University of Oxford he graduated B.A., 1833, and M.A. 1835. Cowper returned to Australia in 1836 and was made chaplain at Port Stephens, New South Wales where he remained for 20 years, and then became Acting Principal of Moore Theological College, Sydney, for a few months after the College opened at Liverpool on 1 March 1856.

In 1858 Cowper succeeded his father at St Philip's church, Sydney, and later the same year was appointed Archdeacon and Dean of Sydney. He several times acted as commissary for bishops Frederic Barker and Alfred Barry during their absences in England, showing much administrative ability. He was venerated and loved for his piety and kindliness and died aged 91 on 14 June 1902, he was buried at St Jude's cemetery, Randwick. Cowper was married twice and was survived by children. Cowper published Episcopate of the Right Reverend Frederic Barker, D.D. in 1888, and his The Autobiography and Reminiscences of William Macquarie Cowper appeared soon after his death.

References

• K. J. Cable, 'Cowper, William Macquarie (1810 - 1902)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3, MUP, 1969, pp 480-482
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Cowper, William Macquarie". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogCl-Cu.html#cowper3. 
• Peter G. Bolt, William Cowper (1778-1858). The Indispensable Parson. The Life and Influence of Australia's First Parish Clergyman (Camperdown, NSW: Bolt Publishing Services, 2009).

External links

• Parish Church of St. Philip, Sydney

Persondata
Name	Cowper, William Macquarie
Alternative names	Cowper, Macquarie
Short description
Date of birth	3 July 1810
Place of birth
Date of death	14 June 1902
Place of death