William Hugh Joseph Clifford (24 December 1823 – 14 August 1893) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Clifton from 1857 to 1893.[1]
Born in Irnham, Lincolnshire on 24 December 1823, the son of Hugh Clifford, 7th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh and Mary Lucy Weld, daughter of Cardinal Thomas Weld.[1][2] He was ordained to the priesthood on 25 August 1850. Six and a half years later, he was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton on 29 January 1857.[1] His consecration to the Episcopate took place at the Sistine Chapel on 15 February 1857, the principal consecrator was Pope Pius IX, with Archbishop George Errington as co-consecrator.[1][2] Bishop Clifford attended the First Vatican Council as one of the 693 council fathers, held between 8 December 1869 to 20 October 1870.[1]
In 1887 he helped the nuns of Syon Abbey to create a new monastery in his family town, Chudleigh Abbey.
He died in office on 14 August 1893, aged 69.[1]