Lawyer, writer, and Catholic leader, nephew of Father Alban Butler. Born in London, England on August 14, 1750; died there on June 2, 1832. He was educated at the English College, Douai, studied law in England, and as his religious affiliations constituted ineligibility for the bar, became a conveyancer. He joined the agitation for repeal of the Penal Laws, was made secretary to the committee to promote the repeal, and in 1791 on the passing of the bill for partial relief he was called to the bar. He was a conspicuous figure in the controversies among the Catholic laymen and clergy in connection with the Catholic Committee and was the leading opponent of Bishop Milner. His works include Reminiscences, Horae Biblicae, Hargrave's Coke on Littleton, On Impressing Seamen, Historical Memoir of English, Scottish, and Irish Catholics, Life of Erasmus, and a Continuation of Alban Butler's Saints' Lives. Some of his works are available online at Project Gutenberg.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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