St. Isidore of Seville was from a noble family of Cartagena, but was orphaned as a child and educated by his elder brother, St. Leander, in a monastery. (Another brother and sister are also saints.)

He became archbishop of Seville in about 600, succeeding his brother. He was famous for his learning, holiness, generosity and organizational ability. He presided over the Council of Toledo and 633 and other major Spanish councils of the Church.

He wrote many important books which influenced later writers, and remarkably for his period, all his known writings have survived, including the Etymologiae, an encyclopedic compilation of contemporary knowledge in many fields.

His feast day is 4 April. In 2001 he was declared patron saint of the Internet by the Catholic Church.

References

Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1993-97
Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, edited by F.L. Cross. (London: Oxford University Press, 1957)
Oxford Classical Dictionary, edited by M. Cary, et al. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1949)
Encyclopedia of Religion. 16 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1987)
O'Connor, John B. "St. Isidore of Seville," in: The Catholic Encyclopedia. (Encyclopedia Press, 1913). Also available at: http://www.csn.net/advent/cathen/08186a.htm
Matz, Terry. "Catholic Online Saints: Saint Isidore of Seville." Available at: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saints/isadoreseville.html and also at: http://www.catholic.org/saints/isidore.html

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European
Hispanic
Spain
1st to 10th Centuries Ce
Journalism
Christian
Orphaned (Both Parents)
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Adoptees/Fosterees from Wealthy, Famous, Noble or Divine Birth Families
Parent(s) Died, Disappeared or Became Incapacitated
Fostered or Adopted by Birth Sibling(s)