HAROLD, FRANCIS

Franciscan historian; b. Limerick, Ireland, early 17th century; d. Rome, 1685. He had five Franciscan relatives: Luke wadding, uncle; Bonaventure Baron, cousin; and Anthony, Thomas, and Francis (junior) Harold, nephews. After having studied in St. Isidore's College, Rome (from Jan. 9, 1639), he was sent to teach in Prague (Oct. 28, 1642), Vienna, and finally Graz, whence he returned to Rome (1651) to succeed his uncle, Luke Wadding, as annalist of the order (April 12, 1655). Considerably inferior to Wadding as a historian, he collected much but published little.

Bibliography: Franciscan Library, Killiney, MSS D 1, 5, and 17. Archives, St. Isidore's College, Rome, MS W9. j. t. gilbert, The Dictionary of National Biography from the Earliest Times to 1900 (London 1885–1900) 8:1310. g. cleary, Father Luke Wadding and St. Isidore's College, Rome (Rome 1925) 108–112. b. millett, The Irish Franciscans 1651–1665 (Rome 1964), passim., esp. 124, 127, 467–469. b. jennings, "Miscellaneous Documents," Archivium Hibernicum 14 (1949) 5, 7, 11, 12. m. o'n. walsh, "Irish Books Printed Abroad 1475–1700," The Irish Book 2 (1963) 16–17. j. ware, The History and Antiquities of Ireland… with the History of the Writers of Ireland, ed. w. harris, 2 v. in 1 (Dublin 1764) 200–201. j. h. sbaralea, Supplementum et castigatio ad scriptores trium ordinum S. Francisci a Waddingo, 2 v. (Rome 1806; new ed. in 4 v. 1906–36) 3:229.

[b. millett]