Robert St Leger SJ (1788-1856)

Educationalist, Spiritual Guide, Administrator and Vicar-Apostolic to Calcutta and Bengal

Robert St Leger SJ lived and worked in the first half of the nineteenth century. Born in Ireland, he was educated at the Jesuit college at Stonyhurst, England, where he experienced God’s call to become a Jesuit. Even by the standards of the day, his wide-ranging skills and acquired experience during the course of his life and mission were impressive.

However, like many Irish Catholics in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, he left very little in the way of personal documents. Fellow Jesuit Thomas J Morrissey SJ, author of several books on historical Jesuits of note, has gathered information from religious institutions and government organisations to compile a chronology of St Leger’s life and activities. In doing so, he documents the depth of St Leger’s vocation and the extent of his hard work and brings a little-known but impactful spiritual guide, educationist and administrator out from the shadows of history.