Skip to main content

Ven. Peter Wright

Martyr, b. at Slipton, Northamptonshire, 1603; suffered at Tyburn, 19 May, 1651. After spending ten years in a country solicitor's office he enlisted in the English army in Holland, but deserted after a month, and for two years remained in the Flemish Jesuit Seminary at Ghent. In 1629 he entered the novitiate of the Society at Watten. After holding various offices at Liège and Saint-Omer he became chaplain to Sir Henry Gage's English regiment in the service of Spain. When Gage returned to England in the spring of 1644, Wright went with him and was present at the relief of Basing House, the seat of John, 5th Marquess of Wincheser. On Gage's death (13 January, 1645), at which he was present, Wright became the marquess's chaplain in his London house, where he was arrested on Candlemas Day, 1651. Committed to Newgate, he was eventually condemned at the Old Bailey under 27 Eliz., c. 2. His execution on Whit Monday took place before over twenty thousand spectators. He was allowed to hang till he was dead.

More Catholic Encyclopedia

Search the Catholic Encyclopedia:

Browse Encyclopedia by Alphabet


Catholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive resource on Catholic teaching, history, and information ever gathered in all of human history. This easy-to-search online version was originally printed in fifteen hardcopy volumes.

Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic teaching, the Encyclopedia contains not only precise statements of what the Church has defined, but also an impartial record of different views of acknowledged authority on all disputed questions, national, political or factional. In the determination of the truth the most recent and acknowledged scientific methods are employed, and the results of the latest research in theology, philosophy, history, apologetics, archaeology, and other sciences are given careful consideration.

No one who is interested in human history, past and present, can ignore the Catholic Church, either as an institution which has been the central figure in the civilized world for nearly two thousand years, decisively affecting its destinies, religious, literary, scientific, social and political, or as an existing power whose influence and activity extend to every part of the globe. In the past century the Church has grown both extensively and intensively among English-speaking peoples. Their living interests demand that they should have the means of informing themselves about this vast institution, which, whether they are Catholics or not, affects their fortunes and their destiny.

Browse the Catholic Encyclopedia by Topic

Copyright © Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company New York, NY. Volume 1: 1907; Volume 2: 1907; Volume 3: 1908; Volume 4: 1908; Volume 5: 1909; Volume 6: 1909; Volume 7: 1910; Volume 8: 1910; Volume 9: 1910; Volume 10: 1911; Volume 11: - 1911; Volume 12: - 1911; Volume 13: - 1912; Volume 14: 1912; Volume 15: 1912

Catholic Online Catholic Encyclopedia Digital version Compiled and Copyright © Catholic Online


Newsletter Sign Up

Daily Readings

Reading 1, Second Corinthians 11:1-11
I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me -- ... Read More

Psalm, Psalms 111:1-2, 3-4, 7-8
Alleluia! I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart, in the ... Read More

Gospel, Matthew 6:7-15
'In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they ... Read More

Saint of the Day

June 20 Saint of the Day

St. Vincent Kaun
June 20: Martyr of Japan. A native of Korea, he was brought to Japan in ... Read More




Marketplace

Click Here

Longing for the Holy
Spiritual guidance and faith sharing with Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI. ... Read More


Click Here

Olive Wood Rosary Bracelet
Show your faith wherever you go with our Olive Wood Rosary Bracelet. ... Read More