One of the books i've been
Today is the day he died in 1656
James Ussher
Early life and Education
He was born in Dublin, Ireland to a well-off family. His grandfather was a speaker in the Irish Parliament, and his father was a clerk.
According to some biographers, James was taught to read by two blind, spinster aunts.
He entered Trinity College, Dublin on January 9th 1594 at the age of 13 (a normal age back in the day). He was ordained in 1602 as a deacon in the Church of Ireland and seemingly made a priest by his uncle (who, at this time was the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland).
Gaining respect and advancing in the Church, which was further aided by meeting King James I, he eventually gained the position of Primate of all Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh, in 1625, surprisingly while he was taking time off from his duties to study Church history.
Politician
As unrest was brewing between Spain & England he called a secret meeting of bishops in his home. Disturbed by a possibility that Ireland would side with Spain and thus give power in Ireland to the roman catholic church they wrote:
"The religion of the papists is superstitious and idolatrous; their faith and doctrine erroneous and heretical; their church in respect of both, apostatical; to give them therefore a toleration, or to consent that they may freely exercise their religion, and profess their faith and doctrine, is a grievous sin."
Fought for peace & doctrine
In 1634 Ussher left Dublin for Drogheda where his house was, there he concentrated on his archdiocese and study. Although Ussher was undoubtedly more of a scholar than a pastor, it is noteworthy that where there was division he sought unity rather than confrontation.
Having said this, he was extensive in disputing the roman catholic church and identified the pope as antichrist. Being a Calvinist he was also very much at odds with Armenians.
Life during the English Civil War
During the uprising of 1641 he moved to England, and although he was unflinching in his loyalty to the king, the parliamentarians respected him and awarded him a £400 pension, while the king gave him property of the vacant See of Carlisle.
Even as the Civil war raged, his friends in parliament protected Ussher who moved to London and into the house and protection of Countess of Peterborough. It was from her house that he watched the execution of the king, however fainted before the axe could fall.
Books
Always the scholar James now concentrated on his study & writing, and among other things wrote the book i am now reading 'The Annals of the World' in which he even calculates the date of creation at 23 October 4004 BC.
A full list of his works is provided on Wikipedia.
Death
On 21st March 1656 Ussher died of an internal hemorrhage at the age of 75.
He was buried at Westminster with Oliver Cromwel's permission, showing the respect that he had held, even with those he was in opposition with.
*I compiled this overview of Bishop James Ussher's life using various websites (mostly wikipedia).
