Questions about Saint-Omer
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the Shakespeare First Folio found in Saint-Omer?
In November 2014, a previously unknown Shakespeare First Folio was discovered in the public library of Saint-Omer, France, where it had lain undisturbed for roughly 200 years. The first 30 pages were missing, and the name "Neville" was written on the first surviving page, suggesting a possible link to Edward Scarisbrick, a Catholic exile who attended Saint-Omer College. Eric Rasmussen, a professor at the University of Nevada and one of the world's foremost Shakespeare authorities, confirmed its authenticity.
Who founded the College of Saint Omer and why?
The College of Saint Omer was founded in 1593 by Robert Persons, an English Jesuit, to provide Roman Catholic education for English students after England's Protestant Reformation imposed penal laws against Catholic schooling in the country. The college operated in Saint-Omer until 1762, eventually relocating to Bruges, then Liège, and finally settling at Stonyhurst in Lancashire in 1794.
Which American founding fathers studied at Saint-Omer College?
John Carroll, Daniel Carroll, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton all studied at the English Jesuit College in Saint-Omer. John Carroll became the first Catholic bishop in the United States and founded Georgetown University. Daniel Carroll was one of only two Catholics to sign the Constitution, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence.
What happened to Douglas Bader at Saint-Omer during World War II?
Douglas Bader, the legless RAF Battle of Britain ace, parachuted from his Spitfire during an aerial battle over France and was initially treated at a Luftwaffe hospital at Saint-Omer. He had lost one of his artificial legs when bailing out, and the RAF dropped a replacement leg during a bombing raid over the town.
What is the Marais Audomarois near Saint-Omer?
The Marais Audomarois is a cultivated wetland area outside Saint-Omer that is one of the last of its kind remaining in France and is listed as a UNESCO heritage site. Its mild climate and fertile soil support year-round farming, with cauliflower exported throughout Europe alongside carrots, endive, and watercress.
When did Louis XIV capture Saint-Omer and how?
Louis XIV forced Saint-Omer to capitulate in 1677 after a seventeen-day siege. The conquest was permanently confirmed by the Peace of Nijmegen, signed in the fall of 1678, which secured France's annexation of the town after more than a century of failed French attempts dating back to 1551.