Thomas Whittaker

Thomas Whittaker (1614 at Burnley, Lancashire – executed 7 August 1646 at Lancaster) was an English Roman Catholic priest. A Catholic martyr, he was beatified in 1987.

Life

Son of Thomas Whitaker, schoolmaster, and Helen, his wife, he was educated first at his father's school. By the generosity of the Towneley family he was then sent to Valladolid, where he studied for the priesthood.

After ordination (1638) he returned to England, and for five years worked in Lancashire, including places such as Claughton-on-Brock. On one occasion he was arrested, but escaped while being conducted to Lancaster Castle, by climbing out the upstairs window of an inn.

Though naturally timorous, and suffering much from the anticipation of his execution, he declined all attempts made to induce him to conform to the state church by the offer of his life. He was executed with Edward Bamber and John Woodcock, saying to the sheriff: "Use your pleasure with me, a reprieve or even a pardon upon your conditions I utterly refuse".