Thomas Walsh was born in
London on 3 October 1777, the son of Charles and Mary Brittle Walsh. He attended
St Albans Grammar School in
Hertfordshire. Through his uncle, a priest of the London District, he obtained admission to the
College of St. Omer. In 1793, the
French Revolution and the United Kingdom's declaration of war on France ended the Saint Omer college. The English faculty and students were imprisoned at
Dourlens. In 1795,
Gregory Stapleton, President of the college, obtained from the directory an order for the release of the sixty-four students. They were conveyed to England in an American vessel, and landed at
Dover on 2 March 1795. Walsh continued his studies at
Old Hall Green. Stapleton was appointed vicar apostolic of the Midland district on 29 May 1800, and took up residence at Longbirch, near
Wolverhampton. He brought Walsh, then a deacon, to serve as secretary. Walsh was ordained priest on 19 September 1801, and continued under Stapleton's successor,
Bishop John Milner, as chaplain and missioner at Longbirch until October, 1804, when he was sent to
Sedgley Park School as chaplain. In 1808 he went to
St Mary's College, Oscott as vice-president and later he served as president from 1818 to 1826.
Bishop Walsh Catholic School in
Sutton Coldfield,
Birmingham is named after him. ==References==