Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hodgson, Joseph (1756-1821)
HODGSON, JOSEPH, D.D. (1756–1821), Roman catholic divine, son of George Hodgson and his wife, Mary Hurd of London, was born on 14 Aug. 1756, and was educated at Sedgley Park School, Staffordshire, and the English College of Douay, where he was admitted on 18 Dec. 1769. He was retained in the college as professor, first of philosophy, and then of divinity. He occupied the post of vice-president when the French revolutionists seized the college, and was imprisoned, with the rest of the professors and the students, first at Arras and afterwards at Doullens. On their liberation in 1795 he came to London, and was appointed one of the priests at St. George-in-the-Fields. Subsequently he was removed to Castle Street, and became vicar-general to Bishop Douglass and afterwards to Bishop Poynter. He also had the spiritual care of the ladies' school at Brook Green, Hammersmith, where he died on 30 Nov. 1821.
He wrote a ‘Narrative of the Seizure of Douay College, and of the Deportation of the Seniors, Professors, and Students to Doullens.’ Printed in the ‘Catholic Magazine and Review’ (Birmingham, 1831–2), vols. i. and ii., with a continuation by other hands. It constitutes the principal part of ‘Le Collége Anglais de Douai pendant la Révolution Française (Douai, Équerchin, et Doullens), traduit de l'Anglais, avec une introduction et des notes par M. l'Abbé L. Dancoisne,’ Douai, 1881, 12mo.
[Gillow's Dict. of English Catholics, iii. 319; Husenbeth's Hist. of Sedgley Park School, p. 24.]