He was of Buckinghamshire origin, the younger son of the Reverend William Cleaver, who ran a school at Twyford, and his wife Martha Lettice Lushden. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1767, M.A. in 1770, B.D. and D.D. in 1783.[1]
His exercise of the Archbishopric of Dublin was cut short for reasons of alleged insanity.[1] He appears to have favoured the use of the Irish language.
Family
He married Catherine Wynne of Hazelwood, County Sligo, by whom he had several children, including William, Frances and Caroline; Caroline married Admiral James William King, and was the mother of the prominent evangelist Catherine Pennefather. The Archbishop's wife died on 1 May 1816. His brother William Cleaver was successively bishop of Chester and (1800) bishop of Bangor.[1]