Beckx, PETER JOHN

Beckx, PETER JOHN, general of the Jesuits, was born at Siehem, in Belgium, February 8, 1795. He was early employed on various delicate missions, and was for many years confessor to the Duke of Anhalt-Köthen. In 1847 he was appointed procurator for the province of Austria, and on the expulsion of the society in 1848, returned to Belgium, and became rector of the college at Louvain. He was named provincial of Austria in 1852, and as head of his order from 1853, displayed an ability and tact that did much to advance the status of Jesuits in non-Catholic countries. He died at Rome, March 4, 1887.