James Saurin

James Saurin (c.1760–1842) was an Irish Anglican bishop in the 19th century. He was the last Bishop of Dromore before it was merged to the Diocese of Down and Dromore. He was born in Belfast, the third of the four sons of James Saurin, vicar of Belfast (died 1774) and Jane Duff. William Saurin, Attorney General for Ireland, was his elder brother. The Saurins were of Huguenot extraction, originally from Nimes in France. It was probably the Bishop's grandfather, Louis, who settled in Ireland about 1727 and became Dean of Ardagh; Louis was a brother of the celebrated preacher Jacques Saurin. Like his brothers, James was educated at Dubourdien's School, a well-regarded private academy in Lisburn. In 1774 he began his studies in Trinity College Dublin, earning a B.A. in 1779, awarded an M.A. 1782, and laster he gained a B.D. and D.D. in 1820.