Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Krause, William Henry
KRAUSE, WILLIAM HENRY (1796–1852), Irish divine, was born on 6 July 1796 in the island of St. Croix, West Indies. At an early age he was brought to England, and placed for education in a school at Fulham, from which he was afterwards sent to another at Richmond. In 1814, having made up his mind to enter the army, he obtained a commission in the 51st light infantry, then in the south of France. Next year he was present at the battle of Waterloo. On the termination of the war he was placed on half-pay, and soon afterwards returned to St. Croix, where his father still resided. In 1822, being on a visit at the house of a brother officer in Ireland, he came under deep religious impressions and resolved to take holy orders. It was a long time, however, before he succeeded in receiving ordination. In 1826 he was appointed by the Earl of Farnham ‘moral agent’ on his Irish estates, his duty being to look after the schools and endeavour to promote the religious and moral welfare of the tenantry. While discharging these functions with great zeal, he also entered himself at Trinity College, Dublin, and on 27 Feb. 1838 received the degree of M.A. On 26 March 1838 he was ordained for the curacy of Cavan by the Bishop of Kilmore, and for two years ministered most earnestly there. In 1840 he was appointed incumbent of the Bethesda Chapel, Dublin, and soon became one of the most noted of the evangelical clergy of that city. He died on 27 Feb. 1852. Three volumes of his ‘Sermons’ were published after his death (Dublin, 1859).
[Memoir by the Rev. C. S. Stanford, D.D., Dublin, 1854.]