John Hungerford Pollen (22 September 1858–1925) was an English

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

, known as a historian of the

Protestant Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

Life

John Hungerford Pollen was the son of John Hungerford Pollen and Maria Margaret Pollen. The third of ten children, he was born in London in 1858. His father was professor of fine arts at the Catholic University in Dublin. Pollen junior was educated at

The Oratory School The Oratory School () is an HMC Co-educational Independent school (United Kingdom), independent Roman Catholic day and boarding school for pupils aged 11–18 located in Woodcote, north-west of Reading, Berkshire, Reading. Founded in 1859 by S ...

in Birmingham, and then London University. Pollen entered the Society of Jesus in 1877 and was ordained in 1891. In 1895 he was assigned the task of creating a history of the Society in England. Pollen became involved in historical research and archives. His research took him through England, France, and Italy. By 1920 he held the title of Keeper of the Archives. He was one of the group of Jesuit historians restoring the reputation of

Robert Persons Robert Persons (24 June 1546 – 15 April 1610), later known as Robert Parsons, was an English Jesuit priest. He was a major figure in establishing the 16th-century "English Mission" of the Society of Jesus. Early life Robert Person ...

. He was influential in the history of the term ''

Counter-Reformation The Counter-Reformation (), also called the Catholic Reformation () or the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. It began with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) a ...

'', accepting for the Catholic side the appellation for the period of Catholic reform centred on the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent ( la, Concilium Tridentinum), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trento, Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italian Peninsula, Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation ...

, but at the same time offering an interpretation that made it less reactive, in relation to the

. These ideas were put forth in the 1908 ''

Catholic Encyclopedia The ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'' (also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedia'') i ...

'' article he wrote on the subject. Pollen was also a contributor to ''

The Month ''The Month'' was a monthly review, published from 1864 to 2001, which, for almost all of its history, was owned by the English Province of the Society of Jesus and was edited by its members. History ''The Month'', founded and edited by Frances M ...

'', and the '' Dublin Review''. Pollen was vice-postulator for the beatification of the English Martyrs. He was a correspondent of

Georg Cantor Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Philipp Cantor ( , ; – January 6, 1918) was a German mathematician. He played a pivotal role in the creation of set theory, which has become a fundamental theory in mathematics. Cantor established the importance of ...

, from 1896 and a founding member with

Joseph Stanislaus Hansom Joseph Stanislaus Hansom, FRIBA (1845–1931) was a British architect. He was the son and partner of the better known Joseph Aloysius Hansom, inventor of the Hansom cab. He trained with his father, becoming his partner in 1869, and taking over ...

of the

Catholic Record Society The Catholic Record Society (Registered Charity No. 313529), founded in 1904, is a scholarly society devoted to the study of Reformation and post-Reformation Catholicism in England and Wales. It has been described as "the premier Catholic histo ...

in 1904.

Works

*''Acts of the English Martyrs'' (1891) *''Life of Father John Morris'' (1886) *''Papal Negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots'' (1901) *''Unpublished Documents Relating to the English Martyrs'' (1908) *''The Bedingfield Papers'' (1909) *''A Jesuit Challenge: Edmund Campion's Debates at the Tower of London in 1581'' (1914; edited with

Joseph Rickaby Joseph John Rickaby, SJ (1845-1932) was an English Jesuit priest and philosopher. Life Rickaby was born in 1845 in Everingham, York. He received his education at Stonyhurst College, and was ordained in 1877, one of the so-called ''Stonyhurst ...

) *''The English Catholics in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth'' (1920)

Notes

External links

''New Catholic Dictionary''
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pollen, John Hungerford 1858 births 1925 deaths 20th-century English Jesuits 19th-century English Jesuits British historians of religion Reformation historians 19th-century British historians 20th-century English historians English male non-fiction writers 19th-century English writers 19th-century English male writers Contributors to the Catholic Encyclopedia