Gregory Stapleton D.D. (1748–23 May 1802) was an English Roman Catholic bishop. While president of St. Omer's English College, he and his students were imprisoned during the French Revolution.
Lifeedit
Born at Carlton, Yorkshire, he was seventh son of Nicholas Stapleton, by his third wife, Winifred, daughter of John White of Dover Street, London.[1] He went to the English College, Douai, in 1762. Ten years later, then a deacon, he was appointed professor of music. On his ordination, a year later, he became procurator of the college, and he retained that post for more than twelve years.
In 1787, he was appointed president of the English College at St. Omer, in succession to Alban Butler. About three years after the outbreak of the French Revolution he and the students of the English colleges at St. Omer and Douai were imprisoned in the citadel of Doullens. In 1795 he obtained leave to go to Paris, and after difficulties he procured from the directory an order for the release of all the students, sixty-four in number. They were conveyed to England in an American vessel, and landed at Dover on 2 March 1795.[1]
Soon afterwards Stapleton, with Bishop John Douglass, went to the Duke of Portland and William Pitt, to solicit their approval of a plan for converting the school at Old Hall Green, near Ware, Hertfordshire, into a Catholic college. The duke had previously known Stapleton, and he and Pitt gave them encouragement. Stapleton took his students to Old Hall Green,[2] and on 19 August 1795 the first stone was laid of St. Edmund's College, Ware. Stapleton presided over it till the autumn of 1800, when, having accompanied the Rev. John Nassau to Rome on a secret mission, he was raised to the episcopate.
Stapleton's appointment to be titular bishop of Hierocæsarea and vicar apostolic of the Midland district, in succession to Charles Berington, was approved by the pope on 29 May 1800, and he was consecrated on 8 March 1801.[1] He took up his residence at Longbirch near Wolverhampton, and employed one of his former students, Thomas Walsh, as secretary.[3] (Walsh would later become Vicar Apostolic of the London District.)
Stapleton died at St. Omer on 23 May 1802, and was succeeded as vicar apostolic by John Milner.
Referencesedit
^ abcBrady, William Maziere. Annals of the Catholic Hierarchy in England and Scotland, J. M. Stark, 1883, p. 219
^Husenbeth, Frederick Charles. The Life of the Right Rev. John Milner, D.D., J. Duffy, 1862, p. 85 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Whitfield, Joseph Louis. "Thomas Walsh." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 2 March 2020 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
gregory, stapleton, 1748, 1802, english, roman, catholic, bishop, while, president, omer, english, college, students, were, imprisoned, during, french, revolution, life, editborn, carlton, yorkshire, seventh, nicholas, stapleton, third, wife, winifred, daughte. Gregory Stapleton D D 1748 23 May 1802 was an English Roman Catholic bishop While president of St Omer s English College he and his students were imprisoned during the French Revolution Life editBorn at Carlton Yorkshire he was seventh son of Nicholas Stapleton by his third wife Winifred daughter of John White of Dover Street London 1 He went to the English College Douai in 1762 Ten years later then a deacon he was appointed professor of music On his ordination a year later he became procurator of the college and he retained that post for more than twelve years In 1787 he was appointed president of the English College at St Omer in succession to Alban Butler About three years after the outbreak of the French Revolution he and the students of the English colleges at St Omer and Douai were imprisoned in the citadel of Doullens In 1795 he obtained leave to go to Paris and after difficulties he procured from the directory an order for the release of all the students sixty four in number They were conveyed to England in an American vessel and landed at Dover on 2 March 1795 1 Soon afterwards Stapleton with Bishop John Douglass went to the Duke of Portland and William Pitt to solicit their approval of a plan for converting the school at Old Hall Green near Ware Hertfordshire into a Catholic college The duke had previously known Stapleton and he and Pitt gave them encouragement Stapleton took his students to Old Hall Green 2 and on 19 August 1795 the first stone was laid of St Edmund s College Ware Stapleton presided over it till the autumn of 1800 when having accompanied the Rev John Nassau to Rome on a secret mission he was raised to the episcopate Stapleton s appointment to be titular bishop of Hierocaesarea and vicar apostolic of the Midland district in succession to Charles Berington was approved by the pope on 29 May 1800 and he was consecrated on 8 March 1801 1 He took up his residence at Longbirch near Wolverhampton and employed one of his former students Thomas Walsh as secretary 3 Walsh would later become Vicar Apostolic of the London District Stapleton died at St Omer on 23 May 1802 and was succeeded as vicar apostolic by John Milner References edit a b c Brady William Maziere Annals of the Catholic Hierarchy in England and Scotland J M Stark 1883 p 219 Husenbeth Frederick Charles The Life of the Right Rev John Milner D D J Duffy 1862 p 85 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Whitfield Joseph Louis Thomas Walsh The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 15 New York Robert Appleton Company 1912 2 March 2020 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Stapleton Gregory Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Stapleton Gregory Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Catholic Church titlesPreceded byCharles Berington Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District1800 1802 Succeeded byJohn Milner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gregory Stapleton amp oldid 1145170017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
