James Ussher. Engraving of James Ussher (1581- 1656), Irish clergyman and creationist who developed a biblical chronology for the history of the Universe. Ussher, born in Dublin, was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1601. By 1620 he was the bishop of Meath and in 1625 was made Archbishop of Armagh. In 1640 he moved to England to continue his various studies. He wrote many books but the most important was Annals of the World (1650-54), in which he established that Earth and the Universe had been created in 4004 BC. It became a widely accepted date for the Creation and in 1654 it was refined by John Lightfoot to 9:00 am on 26th October 4004 BC.