Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/York, Laurence

by Thompson Cooper

YORK, LAURENCE (1687–1770), Roman catholic prelate, born in London in 1687, joined the Benedictine order and made his solemn profession as a monk at St. Gregory's College, Douay, on 28 Dec. 1705, and was ordained priest in 1711. He was prior of St. Edmund's, Paris (1721–5), and afterwards prior at St. Gregory's (1725–9). His services were required for the mission at Bath in 1730. In 1741 he was consecrated bishop of Nisibis in Mesopotamia, and nominated coadjutor to Bishop Pritchard, vicar-apostolic of the western district. He succeeded to that vicariate in 1750, resigned it in 1764, and died at St. Gregory's College, Douay, on 14 April 1770. His portrait hangs in the refectory at Downside.

[Brady's Episcopal Succession, iii. 223, 295; Downside Review, i. 426; Oliver's Cornwall, pp. 55–6, 479; Panzani's Memoirs, p. 421; Snow's Necrology, p. 116.]

T. C.