?1640-1726 [var. Moor]; b. Bridge St., Dublin, a Catholic; ed. at Oratorian Collège Saint-Clement, in Nantes (France); moved to Paris, 1660 and taught philosophy and rhetoric at College de Grassins; offered rectorship in 1677, but refused it as arising from a faculty dispute; accused of assisting in the Popish Plot and organising a French invasion; involved in education of the children of Lord Slane and threatened by English courts; ord. by Luke Wadding as Bishop of Ferns, 1684; returned to Ireland in Oct 1689 at the flight of James II to Ireland; appt. vicar-gen. of Dublin arch-diocese; appt. appt. provost of TCD in 1689 under Tyrconnell’s viceregal government; saved the TCD Library from beingh set on fire with assistance from a librarian called McCarty [var. McCarthy]; the Jesuits later procured his deposition from office after a sermon on the text, “If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch” [Matt. 15:14] which offended King James II - then under the influence of Jesuits (notably his chaplain Fr. Petre, or Peters, SJ); Moore ordered to leave the kingdom; travelled to France and hounded from thence too when James II arrived;

Richard Ryan, Biographia Hibernica: Irish Worthies, Vol.II [of 2] (London & Dublin 1821)

A very learned divine of the Roman Catholic persuasion, was born in Dublin in 1640. After remaining at a grammar-school for some time, he was sent to France, and received his first academical learning at the college of Nantx, whence he removed to Paris, and completed his studies in philosophy and divinity, in both which he attained great reputation, as he did likewise for his critical skill in the Greek language. He taught philosophy and rhetoric in the Grassiu college for some years: but at length returning to Ireland, was, with considerable reluctance, prevailed upon to take priest’s orders; and obtained some [440] preferment while the Catholic bishops possessed influence. When James II came to Ireland, Dr. Moor was recommended, to him, often preached before him, and had influence enough to prevent his majesty from conferring Trinity College, Dublin, on the Jesuits, to which he had been advised by his confessor, Father Peters. Dr. Moor being made provost of this college, by the recommendation of the Roman Catholic bishops, was the means of preserving the valuable library, at a time when the, college was a popish garrison, the chapel a magazine, and many of the chambers were employed as prisons for the Protestants. But the Jesuits could not forgive him for preventing their gaining the entire property of the college, and took advantage to ruin him with the king, from a sermon he preached before his majesty at Christchurch. His text was Matt. xv. 14, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” In this discourse, Dr. Moor had the boldness to impute the failure of the king’s affairs, to his following too closely the councils of the Jesuits, and insinuated that they would be his utter ruin. Father Peters, who had a defect in his eyes, persuaded the king that the text was levelled at his majesty through his confessor, and urged that Moor was a dangerous subject, who endeavoured to stir up sedition among the people. James was so weak as to believe all this, and ordered Dr, Moor immediately to quit his dominions. Moor complied, but hinted at his departure, that he only went as the king’s precursor, who would soon be obliged to follow him. Moor accordingly went to Paris, where the reputation of his learning procured him a favourable reception; and King James, after the battle of the Boyne, followed him as he had predicted. But here it appears, that the king had influence enough to oblige Moor to leave France as he had done Ireland, probably by misrepresenting his conduct toward the Jesuits.

Moor now bent his steps towards Rome, where his learning procured him very high distinction. He was first made censor of books, and then invited to Montefiascone, [441] and appointed rector of a seminary newly founded by Cardinal Barbarigo, and was made also professor of philosophy and Greek. Pope Innocent XII was so much satisfied with his conduct in the government of this seminary, that he contributed the sum of two thousand Roman crowns yearly towards its maintenance; and Clement XI had such a high opinion of Moor, that he would have placed his nephew under his tuition, had he not been prevented, as was supposed, by the persuasion of the Jesuits. On the death of James II, Dr. Moor was invited to France, and such was his reputation there, that he was made twice rector of the university of Paris, and principal of the college of Navarre, and was appointed regius professor of philosophy, Greek, and Hebrew.

He joined with Dr. John Farrely in the purchase of a house contiguous to the Irish college, for the reception of such poor students as might come from Ireland to study there. He was blind for several years prior to his decease; and was obliged to keep a person to read to him, who embezzled many hundred volumes of his library; the remainder of which Dr. Moor bequeathed to the Irish college.

He died in his eighty-fifth year, at his apartments in the college of Navarre, 22nd of August, 1796, and was buried in the vault under the chapel of the Irish college. [442]