author
John Lingard
1771–1851
An English Catholic priest and historian, he became best known for a widely read multi-volume history of England that stood out for its careful use of original sources. His writing helped challenge old prejudices by bringing a more measured Catholic voice into British historical debate.
1 Audiobook
The History of England from the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of King George the Fifth. Volume 08 of 11.
by John Lingard, Hilaire Belloc
About the author
Born in Winchester on February 5, 1771, John Lingard was educated at the English College at Douai and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1795. After the upheaval of the French Revolution brought him back to England, he taught and served in Catholic institutions before settling into mission work that gave him the time and discipline to write.
Lingard is remembered above all for The History of England, published in multiple volumes between 1819 and 1830. The work earned lasting attention because it drew closely on contemporary documents and offered a notably calm, evidence-based account of periods that were often treated in fiercely partisan ways, especially the Reformation.
He spent much of his later life in Lancashire and died at Hornby on July 17, 1851. For listeners interested in history, his life is a reminder that patient research and clear prose can quietly reshape how a nation understands its past.