Caraman, Philip, 1911-1998

Philip George Caraman was born on August 11, 1911 in North London, England to René André Caraman and Betina Pasqua. Alongside his brother, John, Caraman attended Stonyhurst College, a Jesuit institution in Lancashire. Philip joined the Society of Jesus in 1930, continuing his religious training at Campion Hall, Oxford, where he studied History under the mentorship of Father Martin D’Arcy. Caraman was ordained in 1945 at Farm Street Church, London.

Caraman remained at Farm Street for the following sixteen years, joining the "House of Writers" within the church. In 1948, he became editor of The Month, a Jesuit monthly review. Caraman published several biographies of notable Jesuits, including William Weston and Henry Morse. In 1956, Caraman was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Caraman left Farm Street in 1963, travelling widely for his research. He was particularly interested in Norwegian Catholicism, and made return visits to Norway, also acting as chaplain to the population of English-speaking Catholics in Oslo. Caraman published a biography of C.C. Martindale, the renowned English Catholic priest, as well as making contributions to an encyclopedia of Jesuit history. His final book, Tibet: the Jesuit Century, was published the year he died. Caraman died on May 6, 1998 in Somerset, England.