WOOD, James Frederic, archbishop, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 April, 1813; died there, 20 June. 1883. His father, an Englishman who had settled in this country, carried on the business of an importer. The child was sent in his eighth year to his English relatives in Gloucester, where for five years he attended the free-school of St. Mary de Crypt. In his fifteenth year he left Philadelphia for Cincinnati, where he had been appointed clerk in a branch of the United States bank, and in 1833 he became teller in the Franklin bank of that city, and in 1836 its cashier. He was received into the Roman Catholic church in April, 1836, by Archbishop Purcell, and a few months later resigned his post in the bank and went to Rome to study for the priesthood. In the College of the propaganda, where he remained nearly seven years, the authorities appointed him prefect of discipline. After his ordination in 1844 he returned to Cincinnati, where he acted as assistant rector in the cathedral for ten years, and in 1854 he was appointed to the pastorate of St. Patrick's. In 1857 he was consecrated bishop of Gratianopolis in partibus and afterward he was transferred to Philadelphia, his native city, where he was to act as coadjutor to Bishop Neumann with the right of succession. The Philadelphia diocese at that time had hastily undertaken more than it seemed likely to be able to accomplish, and financial difficulties were producing apathy. Many institutions for religion, education, and benevolence, a magnificent cathedral among the number, had been begun, but their expense, so far cheerfully borne, was beginning to be severely felt by the Roman Catholic population. As a consequence, many of the buildings had been stopped altogether, and the others were advancing in a slow and half-hearted way. But from the moment of Bishop Wood's arrived things began to improve. Instead of waiting for the completion of the cathedral to form its parish, he called a very strong one into instant existence by simply erecting a large but inexpensive cathedral chapel, thus securing immediate and permanent financial aid, which he then gradually augmented by general collections. Bishop Neumann dying in 1860, his successor could devote himself with still greater efficiency to the wants of the diocese. The cathedral was hardly finished in 1864 when the foundation was laid at Overbrook of the Seminary of St. Charles, the cost of which, $500,000, was fully justified by the demands for pastors that were made by new churches. Many other institutions--educational, charitable, or religious--were either auspiciously begun or brought to a successful issue during his administration. He was taken away from his ordinary duties three times by orders to present himself at Rome--in 1862 to assist at the canonization of the Japanese martyrs, in 1867 to celebrate the 1800th anniversary of St. Peter and St. Paul, and in 1869 to take active part at the Vatican council. In 1871, the s flourishing state of the diocese making a division necessary, several episcopal districts were formed, over which he was created archbishop in 1875. In 1880 he assisted at the Baltimore provincial council, anal in 1882 the twenty-fifth anniversary of his elevation to the bishopric was celebrated enthusiastically. His health was now feeble, yet he allowed himself little or no relaxation from his numerous duties. Among his favorite projects had been that of providing the cathedral with a grand altar, decorating the interior in befitting style, and then paying off the debt. Most of this he had successfully accomplished when death put a sudden end to his labors. He was noted for his knowledge of sanitary laws as applicable to the construction of new buildings, and no Roman Catholic institution was erected without this subject receiving his careful consideration. He was especially hostile to the introduction of political issues wood from other countries into the United States, and the stand he took on this question sometimes created discontent among his flock.