Garnett, Henry

Related Category: British and Irish History: Biographies

(gär´nət), 1555?–1606, English Jesuit. He was converted to Roman Catholicism and in 1575 became a Jesuit. After some years on the Continent he returned as a missionary to England (1586) and became superior of the English Jesuits. He is principally remembered as one of the priests accused of taking part in the Gunpowder Plot. Garnett admitted to knowledge of the plot as confessor to two of the conspirators, was convicted of treason on confusing evidence, and was executed.