WRIGHT, PETER, BL.

Jesuit priest and martyr; b. Slipton, Northamptonshire, England, 1603; d. hanged at Tyburn (London), May 19, 1651. Following the death of his Catholic father, Peter worked for a local solicitor to help support his 11 siblings. Eventually he apostatized to Anglicanism under the influence of the firm's clients. He joined the English army to fight in the Netherlands, but deserted after a month's service. Soon thereafter he visited the English Jesuits in Liège and was reconciled to the Church. After two years (1627–29) studying at the Jesuit college in Ghent, he entered the novitiate at Watten, completed his seminary studies at Liège, and was ordained (1639). Thereafter he served at the English College in Saint-Omer and as military chaplain to Sir Henry Gage's English regiment in the service of Spain in Flanders. He returned to England with Gage in the spring of 1644, and was present at the relief of Basing House, the seat of John, fifth Marquis of Wincheser. On Gage's death (Jan. 13, 1645), at which he was present, Wright became the marquis's chaplain in Hampton, then at his London house, where he was arrested on Candlemas Day (Feb.2) 1651. Committed to Newgate, he was condemned at the Old Bailey under 27 Eliz., c. 2, on May 17, 1651. His execution on Whit Monday was witnessed by over 20,000 spectators. Mercifully, he was allowed to hang until he was dead. His relics can be found at the Jesuit college in Liège. He was beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929.

Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England); December 1 (Jesuits).

See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.

Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969) II, 189. h. foley, Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus (London 1877–82) II, 506–65, VII, 870. j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891). m. stanton, Menology of England and Wales (London, 1887) 218. j. n. tylenda, Jesuit Saints & Martyrs (Chicago 1998) 138–40.

[k. i. rabenstein]