Saint Peter Đoàn Công Quý was born in 1826 in the Búng parish, Bình Thạnh canton, Thủ Dầu Một (now part of Bình Dương province). He was the youngest child of Mr. Antôn Miêng and Mrs. Anê Thường. At age 21, thanks to an introduction by Father Tám, he studied Latin with missionary Gioan Mịch, then entered the Saint Joseph Seminary in Sài Gòn and continued his theology studies in Penang.

In 1855, seminarian Quý returned to his homeland. In September 1858, after three years serving various parishes, he was ordained a priest in Thủ Dầu Một. Father Quý successively took charge of the Lái Thiêu, Gia Định, and Kiến Hòa parishes, and served as assistant priest at the Cái Mơn parish in Vĩnh Long. Filled with the zeal of youth, he did not fear hardship and was always ready to sacrifice—even wanting to offer his life to save the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, had he not been prevented by his superior.

Later, he was assigned to the Đầu Nước parish, Cù Lao Giêng, in An Giang. When troops of the An Giang governor-general surrounded the house of Mr. Lê Văn Phụng, the priest, though safely hidden, voluntarily presented himself to protect the host. He boldly proclaimed: "I am the religious leader. Anyone who wishes to follow the religion, I am ready to instruct."

Father Quý, Mr. Phụng, and 32 other faithful were taken in chains to Châu Đốc. In response to the governor-general's advice to renounce his faith—who praised the father as "upright, benevolent, and virtuous"—Father Quý replied: "Yes, Your Excellency, I am a teacher of this religion, how could I possibly renounce it? Moreover, this is the true faith, for it only teaches what is good, not a false religion as Your Excellency mistakenly believes."

Throughout seven months of imprisonment, he comforted his fellow prisoners, celebrated the sacraments, and prayed the Rosary with them. From prison, he sent his mother a poem, which included these heartfelt lines:

Even if bound by ropes, shackles, and harsh prison,
The cup of torture, chains, and fetters are of no concern.
Content to willingly endure this single path,
To fulfill the way of a loyal subject and filial child.

On July 30, 1859, the capital execution order from the imperial capital Huế was delivered to Châu Đốc. The next morning, Father Đoàn Công Quý and Mr. Lê Văn Phụng joyfully proceeded to the execution ground at the Chà Và hamlet. After three drum rolls, the death sentence was carried out. Father Quý rested in the Lord at the age of 33.

His remains were initially buried at Năng Gù church; in 1959, they were exhumed and reburied in Cù Lao Giêng.

Priest Peter Đoàn Công Quý was proclaimed Blessed by Pope Pius X on May 2, 1909, and canonized as a Saint by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.