Edward Ilsley became the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham (England) on 27 November 1911, having previously been the third Bishop of Birmingham since 17 November 1888. The correct spelling is Ilsley, not Illsley.

He was born in Stafford

Stafford

Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...

 on 11 May 1838. He was ordained priest on 29 June 1861. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham (and titular bishop of Fessee) on 19 November 1879. He died on 13 June 1926, aged 88, having retired in 1921.

Legacy

Archbishop Ilsley Catholic Technology College

Technology College

Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...

 in Acocks Green

Acocks Green

Acocks Green is an area and ward of south Birmingham, England. It is named after the Acock family who built a large house in the area in 1370. Acocks Green is one of the four wards making up Yardley formal district...

, Birmingham, who use his coat of arms (five golden birds around a golden floriated cross on a blue shield, derived from that of St Edward the Confessor) as their school badge. His motto was Justus et Tenax Propositi or Just and Firm of Purpose.

Further reading

• McInally, Mary (2002). Edward Ilsley Archbishop of Birmingham. Burns & Oates. ISBN 0-86012-315-4. (Detailed illustrated biography.)