Charles Plowden

1743 (age 78)

Plowden Hall, Shropshire

At the suppression of the Society, in 1773, he was minister of the College of Bruges: the Austro-Belgic government, in its execution of the decree of suppression, kept him imprisoned for some months after the closing of the college. He wrote an account of its destruction. After his release from confinement, he was for a time at the College of Liège, which the prince-bishop of Liège had offered to the English ex-Jesuits. Returning to England, he became a tutor in the family of Mr. Weld, and chaplain at Lulworth Castle, where he assisted at the consecration of Bishop Carroll, in 1790. He preached the sermon on the occasion, and published an account of the establishment of the new See of Baltimore. Father Plowden had a large share in the direction of Stonyhurst College, founded in 1794. After the restoration of the Society of England, he was the first master of novices, at Hodder. In 1817, he was appointed Provincial, and at the same time, Rector of Stonyhurst, holding the later office till 1819. Summoned to Rome for the 20th General Congregation (1920) and election of the Superior General of the Jesuits, he died suddenly in Jougne (France), on his journey homeward, and, through mistaken information to his mission and identity, he was buried with full military honours. His attendant had gathered the information that he had been at Rome in connection with business concerning a "general", and the town authorities, mixing things, concluded that he was a general of the British army, hence the military funeral.

Charles Plowden

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Background

He was descended from Edmund Plowden, in a Catholic family.

Career

At the suppression of the Society, in 1773, he was minister of the College of Bruges: the Austro-Belgic government, in its execution of the decree of suppression, kept him imprisoned for some months after the closing of the college. He wrote an account of its destruction. After his release from confinement, he was for a time at the College of Liège, which the prince-bishop of Liège had offered to the English ex-Jesuits.

Returning to England, he became a tutor in the family of Mr.

Weld, and chaplain at Lulworth Castle, where he assisted at the consecration of Bishop Carroll, in 1790. He preached the sermon on the occasion, and published an account of the establishment of the new See of Baltimore.

Father Plowden had a large share in the direction of Stonyhurst College, founded in 1794. After the restoration of the Society of England, he was the first master of novices, at Hodder.

In 1817, he was appointed Provincial, and at the same time, Rector of Stonyhurst, holding the later office till 1819.

Summoned to Rome for the 20th General Congregation (1920) and election of the Superior General of the Jesuits, he died suddenly in Jougne (France), on his journey homeward, and, through mistaken information to his mission and identity, he was buried with full military honours. His attendant had gathered the information that he had been at Rome in connection with business concerning a "general", and the town authorities, mixing things, concluded that he was a general of the British army, hence the military funeral.

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Charles Plowden

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