William Seth Agar

William Seth Agar was an English Catholic Canon, born at York, 25 December, 1815; died 23 August, 1872.

He was educated at Prior Park College, Bath, and was ordained priest there, and appointed (1845) to Lyme Regis, Dorset. Ill health obliged him to leave Lyme twice, and in 1852 he was appointed chaplain to the canonesses of St. Augustine at Abbotsleigh, where he lived uninterruptedly to his death. In 1856 he was installed as Canon of the Plymouth Chapter. He is considered by Roman Catholics to have been "one of the most deeply versed priests in England in ascetical and mystical theology, and in the operations of grace in souls".

He was more a profound thinker than a great reader, although he studied many theological and philosophical works, especially the published writings of his favorite author, Rosmini, which he carefully annotated. William Seth Agar also translated Rosmini's "Catholic Catechism" into English.