Sir Erasmus Henry Dryden, 5th Baronet facts for kids

Sir Erasmus Henry Dryden, 5th Baronet (1669–1710) was an English Roman Catholic priest and a baronet. He was also known as Father Thomas, OP. A baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.

A Life of Service

Early Life and Education

Erasmus Henry Dryden was born on May 2, 1669. He was the third son of the famous poet John Dryden and his wife, Elizabeth. His mother was the daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire.

Erasmus went to school at the Charterhouse. In November 1685, he was chosen to attend a university. He later studied at Douay, a town known for its colleges.

Becoming a Priest

In 1692, Erasmus joined the Dominicans, which is a religious order of priests. He became a priest himself in 1694.

He traveled to Rome in 1697 and lived in a convent there with other English Dominicans. A convent is a place where religious people live and work. Later that year, he was sent to the Holy Cross convent in Bornheim. He served as a sub-prior there until 1700. A sub-prior is like an assistant leader in the convent.

After his time abroad, Erasmus returned to England. He worked as a priest in Northamptonshire, helping people in the local community.

Inheriting a Title

From 1708, Erasmus lived at Canons Ashby. This estate had been left to his cousin Edward in a will that year.

In 1710, Erasmus became the 5th Baronet when his cousin, Sir John Dryden, 4th Baronet, passed away. The title of Baronet had been started by his great-great-grandfather, Sir Erasmus Dryden, 1st Baronet.

Sir Erasmus Henry Dryden, 5th Baronet, died later in 1710. He was buried at Canons Ashby on December 4, 1710. After his death, his uncle, Sir Erasmus Dryden, became the 6th Baronet.