William Dean
English Roman Catholic priest and martyr
Who they were
William Dean of Yorkshire was ordained at Soissons in 1581, 'a man distinguished by the soundness of his morals and learning'. Banished in 1585 under threat of death, he quickly returned.
Condemned for his priesthood after the Armada, he was the first to die on the new gallows at Mile End on 28 August 1588; when he tried to speak to the people, his mouth was violently stopped.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A priest who defied banishment to serve his people.
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
- Hugh More Blessed“At London in England, Blessed William Dean, priest, and seven companions, martyrs, who under Queen Elizabeth I, on the same day but in different places in the city or nearby, suffered martyrdom by hanging for the kingdom of God.” — this site's research
- James Claxton Blessed“At London in England, Blessed William Dean, priest, and seven companions, martyrs, who under Queen Elizabeth I, on the same day but in different places in the city or nearby, suffered martyrdom by hanging for the kingdom of God.” — this site's research
- Thomas Felton Blessed“At London in England, Blessed William Dean, priest, and seven companions, martyrs, who under Queen Elizabeth I, on the same day but in different places in the city or nearby, suffered martyrdom by hanging for the kingdom of God.” — this site's research
- William Gunter Blessed“At London in England, Blessed William Dean, priest, and seven companions, martyrs, who under Queen Elizabeth I, on the same day but in different places in the city or nearby, suffered martyrdom by hanging for the kingdom of God.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - William Dean
- Wikidata Q8007713 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — William Dean (priest) (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.