Person DS/UK/1032 Blount; Richard (1565-1638); Jesuit Priest Blount Richard 1565-1638 Jesuit Priest Male Born 1565, Leicestershire. Entered the Society of Jesus 7 September 1596. Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest 1 April 1589. Entered the Society of Jesus 7 September 1596. Final vows in the Society of Jesus 5 May 1608/9. Died 13 May 1638, London.

Richard Blount was born in Leicestershire in 1565. He studied at Oxford, but left when he became a Catholic. He arrived at the College of Douai (then at Rhiems) on 22 July 1583 with several other converts. He received the first tonsure and minor orders from the Cardinal de Guise on 23 September, and entered the English College, Rome, on 15 April 1589. On 2 September that he year he left for Spain with Robert Persons and succeeded in landing in England with other priests. He entered the Society 7 September 1596, or, according to several Catalogues, 1592, in England, making his noviceship on the mission. He was professed of the four vows 5 May 1698/9. In 1617 he was apopinted superior of the English Mission. Under his government the members increased greatly, from 19 in 1598 to nealry 200 in 1619. England was raised to a Vice-Province that year, and on 21 January 1623 to a full Province of the Society. Fr Blount was declared the first Provincial, and remained in that office for fiftenn years. He laboured in the English Mission for nearly 50 years, often having to use hiding holes to escape the authorities for several days at a time. He died, probably in London, 13 May 1638 and was buried in Queen Henrietta Maria's private chapel in Somerset House. Member of the English Province of the Society of Jesus. Br Henry Foley SJ, Volume 7 Part 1, Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus (London: Burns and Oates, 1883). International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes MAllen 24/10/2018 MAllen 24/10/2018 c0ee362d-d241-4362-b740-56504e2ba423