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An Irish priest named Rev. Dr. Peter Flood, a native of Legan, Co. Longford, was at the Irish
College (College des Lombards) in Paris, France. He entered the College in 1772. He was made
Superior of the College in 1782 and served in that capacity for six years. In 1788 he was made
bursar as well as Professor of Theology in the College de Navarre. He is described by Dr.
Richard Hayes in "Studies" (1943) as "the first scripturist and casuist in France." Troubled times
came with the Revolution and he had to make a detailed account of the revenue and outlay of the
College to the revolutionary government in 1791. The government extracted a schismatical and
degrading oath from the clergy. Peter Flood rejected this oath with abhorrence and found himself
stranded, and outcast on the streets of Paris. The guillotine was working at top speed and the
rabble (sans-culottes), took indiscriminate toll in the September Massacres. Dr. Flood escaped
death in 1792 by something of a miracle. In the words of Hayes: "On the 5th of September, M.
Guirant (municipal official) presented to the National Assembly another victim saved from the
vengeance of the armed mob. This citizen was an Irish priest named Flood, Administrator of the
College at Bancour. He was very nearly included among the refactory priests who, like him, were
attached to that college. M. Guirant, in the name of the Law, and at the voice of innocence,
succeeded in rescuing him. M. Flood now requests the Assembly to grant him means by which he
may return to his native land. The Assembly ordered that he should be placed under the
protection of the French Nation." He returned to Ireland and was appointed Parish Priest of
Edgeworthstown. He refused a Chair of Theology at Maynooth College in 1795 but was
appointed the second President of Maynooth on January 29, 1798. He experienced much trouble
while in office. He died on June 26, 1803 and is buried in one of the chapels of the college.
We know no details of his parents, ordination or his early life except that he had a brother,
whose
Christian name is unknown. This brother had at least one son. That son was born in 1794 and
was named John.
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