Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Field, Richard (1554?-1606)

by Thompson Cooper

FIELD or DE LA FIELD, RICHARD (1554?–1606), jesuit, son of the Lord of Corduff, born about 1554 in the county of Dublin, studied at Douay, entered the Society of Jesus about 1582, and became a professed father. In April 1599 he was sent from Flanders to Fathers Fitzsimon and Archer in his native country, and he was superior of the Irish jesuit mission till 1640, displaying remarkable prudence and mildness in his office. There are still extant several of his letters which abound with interesting details of the catholic affairs of Ireland. He died in Dublin on 21 Feb. 1605–6.

[Hogan's Ibernia Ignatiana, i. 202; Hogan's Cat. of the Irish Province S. J., p. 7; Oliver's Jesuit Collections, p. 244; Foley's Records, vii. 252.]

T. C.