Michael Derrick
Encyclopedia
John Michael Derrick was the son of the artist, illustrator and cartoonist Thomas Derrick
, and older brother of the writer Christopher Derrick
. He was a leading figure in Roman Catholic journalism
in mid-20th-century England.
by back-to-the-land
parents and attended Douai School
, where the headmaster, Dom Ignatius Rice
, was a friend of his father. On a holiday in Hungary
, not long after beginning his studies at the University of Oxford
, Derrick was incapacitated by a severe intestinal infection and spent several years as an invalid. During this period he wrote The Portugal of Salazar (1938), a sympathetic study of the Corporatist regime of António de Oliveira Salazar
.
In 1938, at the suggestion of Fr Ignatius, he was taken on as assistant editor of The Tablet
. He remained in this position until his early death, throughout the period of the weekly newspaper's greatest prestige. He frequently wrote the editorial "Notebook" column. In 1956 he became editor of the Dublin Review
, which was actually published in London and under his editorship was renamed The Wiseman Review to avoid confusion. For a few months before his death he was London correspondent of L'Osservatore Romano
. He also wrote pamphlets for the Catholic Truth Society
and for Sword of the Spirit
, and translated a number of books on Catholic subjects.
Derrick was Chairman of the Challoner Club, and from 1958 Secretary of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. He stood as the Liberal
candidate for Reading North
in the election of 1950, losing to the Labour candidate.
In 1951 he married Anneliese Burkhardt, and the couple made their home in Petersham
. They had two sons.
On 29 July 1961 he fell seriously ill, and he died on 5 August, a few hours after receiving the viaticum
.
Thomas Derrick (artist)
Thomas Derrick was an English artist, particularly known for his work as an illustrator and cartoonist. He also designed murals and stained glass.-Life:...
, and older brother of the writer Christopher Derrick
Christopher Derrick
This article is about Christopher Derrick the author. If you are looking for Christopher Derrick the runner please see Chris DerrickChristopher Hugh Derrick was an author, reviewer, publisher's reader and lecturer...
. He was a leading figure in Roman Catholic journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
in mid-20th-century England.
Life
Derrick was brought up in rural BerkshireBerkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
by back-to-the-land
Distributism
Distributism is a third-way economic philosophy formulated by such Catholic thinkers as G. K...
parents and attended Douai School
Douai School
Douai School was the public school that was run by the Douai Abbey Benedictine community at Woolhampton, England, until it closed in 1999.- History :...
, where the headmaster, Dom Ignatius Rice
Ignatius Rice
William Ignatius Rice , known in religion as Dom Ignatius Rice, O.S.B., was an English Benedictine monk of Douai Abbey, a headmaster of Douai School , and a first-class cricketer...
, was a friend of his father. On a holiday in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, not long after beginning his studies at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Derrick was incapacitated by a severe intestinal infection and spent several years as an invalid. During this period he wrote The Portugal of Salazar (1938), a sympathetic study of the Corporatist regime of António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
.
In 1938, at the suggestion of Fr Ignatius, he was taken on as assistant editor of The Tablet
The Tablet
The Tablet is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Contributors to its pages have included Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Paul VI ....
. He remained in this position until his early death, throughout the period of the weekly newspaper's greatest prestige. He frequently wrote the editorial "Notebook" column. In 1956 he became editor of the Dublin Review
Dublin Review (Catholic periodical)
The Dublin Review was an influential Catholic periodical founded in 1836 by Michael Joseph Quin, Cardinal Wiseman and Daniel O'Connell. Quin had the original idea for the new journal, soon persuading Wiseman to lend his support, and next enlisting O'Connell whose Catholic Emancipation campaign he...
, which was actually published in London and under his editorship was renamed The Wiseman Review to avoid confusion. For a few months before his death he was London correspondent of L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano is the "semi-official" newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope's public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released...
. He also wrote pamphlets for the Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society is a body that prints and publishes Catholic literature, including apologetics but also prayerbooks, spiritual reading, lives of saints and so forth...
and for Sword of the Spirit
Sword of the Spirit
Sword of the Spirit was a forerunner of the Catholic Institute of International Relations, now Progressio, founded by Cardinal Hinsley in August 1940...
, and translated a number of books on Catholic subjects.
Derrick was Chairman of the Challoner Club, and from 1958 Secretary of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. He stood as the Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate for Reading North
Reading North (UK Parliament constituency)
Reading North was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in the election of 1950, losing to the Labour candidate.
In 1951 he married Anneliese Burkhardt, and the couple made their home in Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
. They had two sons.
On 29 July 1961 he fell seriously ill, and he died on 5 August, a few hours after receiving the viaticum
Viaticum
Viaticum is a term used especially in the Roman Catholic Church for the Eucharist administered, with or without anointing of the sick, to a person who is dying, and is thus a part of the last rites...
.
Pamphlets and essays
- A guerra e a aliança luso-britânica. Lisboa: Bertrand, 1940.
- Eastern Catholics under Soviet Rule. London: Sword of the Spirit and The Tablet, 1946.
- Cardinal Mindszenty. Sword Pamphlet. London: Richard Madley, [1948].
- 'The Treasonable Clerks of 1848', Dublin ReviewDublin ReviewThe Dublin Review may mean either of these journals:*Dublin Review , a Catholic publication*The Dublin Review , a literary magazine...
442 (1948), pp. 49–67. - Persecution in Poland. London: Sword of the Spirit, [1953].
- Tito and the Catholic Church. With a foreword by Cardinal GriffinBernard GriffinBernard William Griffin was an English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1943 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.-Biography:...
. London: Sword of the Spirit, [1953]. - Spain and Colombia: the Position of Protestants. London: Catholic Truth Society, [1955].
- Pope John XXIII. London: Catholic Truth Society, 1958.
- 'Epilogue' to Zsolt Aradi, John XXIII, Pope of the Council. London: Burns & Oates, [1961].
Books edited or translated
- Lou Tseng-TsiangLou Tseng-TsiangLou Tseng-Tsiang was a Chinese diplomat and a Roman Catholic monk. He was twice Premier of the Republic of China and led his country's delegation at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919...
, Ways of Confucius and of Christ, tr. Michael Derrick. London: Burns & Oates, 1948. - Nazareno Padellaro, Portrait of Pius XII, tr. Michael Derrick etc. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1956.
- Wladimir d'OrmessonWladimir d'OrmessonWladimir d'Ormesson was a French essayist, novelist, journalist and diplomat.He was successively ambassador in Vatican city, Buenos Aires and Santiago, and wrote many essays and some novels...
, The Papacy, tr. Michael Derrick. Faith and Fact Books no. 80. London: Burns & Oates, 1959. - René Metz, What is Canon Law?, tr. Michael Derrick. Faith and Fact Books no. 79. London: Burns & Oates, 1960.
- William Eric Brown, The Catholic Church in South Africa: from its origins to the present day, ed. Michael Derrick. London: Burns & Oates, 1960.
External links
- Photograph on Derrick/Clausen family history blog.