Franciszek Kareu (10 December 1731, Orsza – 11 August 1802, Polotsk) was a Polish-British Jesuit priest, missionary and teacher in the region of modern day Belarus. He was elected Temporary Vicar General of the Society of Jesus in Russia from 1799 to 1801. Early years and formation Born of a British family (Carew), settled in Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he followed the usual course of studies, humanities and philosophy, in Orsza before joining the Jesuits. Two years of novitiate in Vilnius (1754–56) were followed by a bout of teaching at Kražiai College (1756–58) and theology studies in Pinsk (1759–63) where he was ordained priest in 1762. Career After missionary work in several places, Minsk, Nieswiez, and Slutsk, in 1768 Kareu arrived in Polotsk where he studied architecture under the guidance of the Jesuit architect, Gabriel Lenkiewicz, along with teaching philosophy and mathematics at the Jesuit College in Polotsk (1769–72). Being close to Stanislaus Czerniewicz and Lenkiewicz, he helped them in their efforts to keep the Society of Jesus going in Russia. He was made Rector of the High School of Orsza in 1782 and took part in the Regional Congregations of 1782 and 1785 which elected successively Cerniewicz and Lenkiewicz, Temporary Vicar General in Russia. After 1785, Kareu was made Rector of the most prestigious Jesuit College in Russia, Polotsk. In this period, he funded the purchase of a printing press from which, school manuals, philosophical and theological treatises and devotional books were produced. Regional Congregation III On 12 February 1799, in the first ballot, Kareu was elected Vicar General of the Society in Russia. He soon had to deal with the bishop of Mogilev's desire to interfere in the appointment of Provincials and Rectors of the Society. Kareu appealed to Emperor Paul I, of Russia, who reaffirmed the independence of the Society, and asked for the Jesuits to take charge of a few projects in Lithuania and in Saint Petersburg, at the Church of Saint Catharina. The emperor's suggestion of a High school in St Petersburg was also accepted, but this could not be started as Paul I was assassinated in March 1801. His successor, Emperor Alexander I was far less friendly towards the Society and finally expelled it in 1820. Superior General Through the establishment of the Jesuits in the Duchy of Parma in 1793, and the letter of endorsement from Emperor Paul I of Russia, the Pope,