Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Martyn, Francis
MARTYN, FRANCIS (1782–1838), Roman catholic divine, born in Norfolk in February 1782, was sent to Sedgley Park school at the age of eight, and in 1796 was removed to St. Mary's College, Oscott. In 1805 he was ordained priest by Bishop Milner at Wolverhampton. It is stated that he was the first priest who went through his course of studies solely in England since the Reformation (Oscotian, new ser. iv. 17, 272). After being stationed for a short time at Brailes, Warwickshire, he was appointed to the mission of Louth, Lincolnshire. Subsequently he served the mission at Bloxwich, Staffordshire, and finally, in 1827, removed to Walsall, where he died on 18 July 1838. The Hon. and Rev. George Spencer preached the funeral sermon, which was printed (Birmingham, 1838, 8vo), with a memoir by the Rev. Robert Richmond.
A portrait of Martyn was engraved by Holl.
His chief works are:
- 'Homilies on the Book of Tobias, being a detailed History and familiar Explication of the Virtues of that Holy Servant of God,' York, 1817, 8vo.
- 'A Series of Lectures on the Sacrament and Sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist,' London [1827?]. He was a frequent contributor to the 'Orthodox Journal.'
[Memoir by Richmond; Laity's Directory for 1839, p. 89; London and Dublin Orthodox Journal, 1838, vii. 63, 80, 173; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Evans's Cat. of Engraved Portraits, No. 18956.]