Rice, Edmund Ignatius (1762–1844)

Irish philanthropist and educator. He founded a number of schools for the destitute, which were officially sanctioned as a holy order by the pope in 1820, under the title ‘Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools of Ireland’. As Brother Ignatius, Rice was superior-general of the order until 1838.

Born at Westcourt, near Callan, County Kilkenny, Rice became wealthy by trading in provisions in Waterford. On the death of his wife in 1789, he retired from business and devoted himself to charity work. He founded his first school at Waterford in 1803, and took religious vows in 1808.