De Burgh began his political career by representing the borough of Athy, Kildare, in the Irish parliament of 1769–76. A keen supporter of liberty of political expression, he was to become a leading figure in the York association for parliamentary reform. From the outset, however, he displayed his opposition to the ideas of the French Revolution, and although this gained him favour with his friend Edmund Burke, it brought him little initial popularity. He was vindicated when the later bloodshed of the revolution brought public opinion around. [3]
As a theologian, de Burgh is best known for his defence of the doctrine of the Trinity against Socinianism. A series of intellectual battles with the Rev. Theophilus Lindsey resulted in the publication of A scriptural confutation of the arguments against the one Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost produced by the Rev. Mr Lindsay in 1774, and An inquiry into the belief of the Christians of the first three centuries representing the one Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, published in York in 1778. Much criticised by anti-trinitarians, [citation needed] his writings received the approval and support of many distinguished laymen, including his friend Edmund Burke, and leading churchmen of the day who included Thomas Newton, Bishop of Bristol. His orthodox theological studies led to the award of a DCL by the University of Oxford in 1788.[3]
Family
Burgh was married to Mary (died 1819), daughter of George Warburton on 25 June 1768, another Irish landowning family. She survived him by 11 years. Although William de Burgh owned considerable estates in Ireland, he lived most of his life in York and was buried in York Minster. In accordance with his will, 328 volumes were bequeathed to the Library at York Minster. [4]