Thomas Cottam
English Catholic priest and martyr
Who they were
Thomas Cottam, of Protestant parents, studied at Oxford and was a London schoolmaster when he was converted. He became a Jesuit novice in Rome, hoping for the Indian mission, and was ordained in 1580.
Arrested at Dover, he escaped, but gave himself up to save the friend who had helped him. Racked in the Tower, he was executed at Tyburn on 30 May 1582.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A priest who surrendered himself to protect a friend.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Connected on this site
- William Filby Blessed“He was put to death at Tyburn on 30 May 1582 with Thomas Cottam, Luke Kirby and Laurence Richardson.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Thomas Cottam
- Wikidata Q2423087 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Thomas Cottam (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.