13 Facts About Giacinto Achilli

However, Achilli escaped and subsequently became a fervent evangelist for the Protestant Anglican Communion.

Giacinto Achilli is particularly notable for his activities in England and for launching a successful criminal prosecution against John Henry Newman, who made accusations about Achilli's past, for libel.

Giacinto Achilli joined the Dominican order in 1819 and was ordained a priest in 1825.

In 1833 Giacinto Achilli obtained the degree of Master of Sacred Theology at the Roman College of St Thomas, the future Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, The Angelicum.

However, in 1842, Giacinto Achilli made his way to Corfu, then a British protectorate, and claimed political asylum alleging that he was a cavaliere and that he had escaped from the fortress at Ancona.

The local authorities were minded to grant the papal consul's request for extradition until they discovered that Giacinto Achilli was claiming to have converted to Protestantism and was engaged in fervent anti-Catholic propaganda, largely under the influence of Isaac Lowndes, the Scottish Presbyterian secretary of the Bible Society.

However, during his absence from Malta, two of his fellow Protestant preachers were accused of "fornication" and it was further alleged that Giacinto Achilli had encouraged them in their misconduct.

Giacinto Achilli returned to Malta in December but was dismissed by the London committee, along with his fellow accused, in May 1848.

Giacinto Achilli travelled there in early 1849 and continued his Protestant, anti-Catholic and pro-nationalist propaganda.

Giacinto Achilli offered a compromise but Newman felt that he could not admit any culpability.

In November 1851, Giacinto Achilli swore an affidavit denying the allegations made against him.

Giacinto Achilli travelled to the US in 1853 with the Swedenborgians and worked for the American Bible Union on translating the New Testament into Italian.

Giacinto Achilli sent his wife to Italy and, in 1859 found himself in court accused of adultery with a Miss Bogue.