Newman, John Henry, 1801-1890

John Henry Newman was born in London on February 21, 1801, the eldest of six children. His early education was at the Ealing School, a private boarding school. He entered Trinity College, Oxford, in 1817 and went on to become a fellow of Oriel College in 1822.

A profound conversion experience in 1816 animated Newman's spirituality and eventually led to his ordination to the Anglican priesthood in 1825. Newman remained at Oxford, serving as a tutor, and in 1828 became vicar of the University Church of St. Mary's. In 1833, while on a sea voyage returning from Italy, Newman wrote the famous poem "Lead Kindly Light." During the 1830s, Newman became associated with high churchmen including John Keble and Richard Hurrell Froude and began to write and publish tracts of dissension in what became known as the Tractarian or Oxford Movement. In 1842, following the controversial publication of Tract 90, which argued that the founding articles of Anglicanism were compatible with Catholicism, Newman moved from Oxford to Littlemore. He resigned his post as vicar of St. Mary's and ultimately converted to Catholicism on October 9, 1845.

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