Thomas Eyre (Jesuit)

Thomas Eyre (1748-1810) was an English Roman Catholic priest and Jesuit, known for his contributions to education and religious life in England during a period of significant legal restrictions on Catholics.

Eyre was born in Hope, Derbyshire. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1767 in Watten, Flanders, where English Jesuits maintained a novitiate due to anti-Catholic laws in England. Following the suppression of the Society of Jesus by Pope Clement XIV in 1773, Eyre returned to England and served as a secular priest.

He was instrumental in the establishment of Ushaw College near Durham in 1808, a Catholic seminary that became one of the most important institutions for the training of priests in England and Wales. Eyre acted as the first president of Ushaw. Prior to this, he played a key role in the continuation of the Northern Catholic College, which eventually relocated and evolved into Ushaw.

Eyre was a significant figure in maintaining Catholic education and religious practice during a challenging time. His leadership and administrative skills were crucial in preserving the continuity of the Catholic priesthood in England. He died in 1810 and is remembered for his dedication to the Catholic Church and his commitment to education.