What was the name of J.R.R. Tolkien’s eldest child, who became a Roman Catholic priest?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s eldest child was John Francis Reuel Tolkien, who became a Roman Catholic priest.

John Francis was born in 1917, the first of Tolkien’s four children. He was ordained as a priest in 1946 and served in the Catholic Church. His religious vocation reflected the importance of Roman Catholicism in the Tolkien family and in Tolkien’s own life.

John Francis also played a practical role in preserving his father’s legacy. After Tolkien’s death, he became involved with Tolkien-related activities and helped protect the author’s papers and reputation. He died in 2003.

Christopher Tolkien, the second child, is more commonly associated with editing Middle-earth material, which can lead to confusion about the eldest son. Tolkien’s other children were Michael and Priscilla. The family’s religious and literary history therefore includes both a priest and the editor who prepared major posthumous publications.