Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dixon, Joseph
DIXON, JOSEPH, D.D. (1806–1866), Irish catholic prelate, born at Cole Island, near Dungannon, county Tyrone, on 2 Feb. 1806, entered the Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth, in 1822. He was ordained priest in 1829, and after holding the office of dean in the college for five years was promoted to the professorship of Sacred Scripture and Hebrew. On the translation of Dr. Paul Cullen [q. v.] to Dublin he was chosen to succeed him as archbishop of Armagh and primate of all Ireland. His appointment by propaganda, 28 Sept. 1852, was confirmed by the pope on 3 Oct., and he was consecrated on 21 Nov. He died at Armagh on 29 April 1866.
He was the author of: 1. ‘A General Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures in a series of dissertations, critical, hermeneutical, and historical,’ 2 vols. 8vo, Dublin, 1852. A review by Cardinal Wiseman of this learned work appeared in 1853 under the title of ‘The Catholic Doctrine of the Use of the Bible.’ 2. ‘The Blessed Cornelius, or some Tidings of an Archbishop of Armagh who went to Rome in the twelfth century and did not return [here identified with Saint Concord], prefaced by a brief narrative of a visit to Rome, &c., in 1854,’ Dublin, 1855, 8vo.
[Brady's Episcopal Succession, i. 232; Tablet, 6 May 1866, p. 278; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.; Freeman's Journal, 30 April and 3 May 1866; Catholic Directory of Ireland (1867), p. 421.