Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James
Grant Wilson, John Fiske and Stanley L. Klos. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton
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McCLOSKEY, John, cardinal, born in Brooklyn,
New York, 20 March, 1810, of Irish parentage; died in New York City, 10 October,
1885. When a boy he had a delicate constitution, and an accident, in which a log
rolled over him, weakened his lungs, so that he was never robust. He was sent to
Mount St. Mary's College, Emmettsburg, Maryland, and after a seven years'
preparatory and collegiate course, entered the theological department of the
institution to prepare for the priesthood. After completing a seminary course of
five years he was ordained a priest by Bishop Dubois, 12 January, 1834, in the
old cathedral in New York, being the eighteenth priest that was ordained in the
diocese.
He was sent to Rome to continue his studies, with the
design of placing him at the head of a proposed college and seminary. Early in
1835 he entered the Gregorian College, where he spent two years, and on his
return he visited the various countries of Europe. He was appointed, 1 November,
1837, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, New York City. On 24 June, 1841, Bishop
Hughes opened St. John's College, Fordham, and appointed him president; but he
held the post only a year, and then returned to his parish work.
On 10 March, 1844, he was consecrated bishop of Axieren
in partibus, and made coadjutor of the diocese of New York, with the right
of succession. In 1847 the new sees of Albany and Buffalo were created, and he
was transferred to the former, 21 May, 1847.
During the seventeen years of his administration the growth
of the church in the new diocese was very rapid, he introduced various religious
organizations, including Ladies of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of Charity, Sisters
of Mercy, Sisters of St. Joseph, those of the third order of St. Francis, and
Hospitalers, Jesuits, Oblates, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Capuchins, and he
built the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and founded the theological
seminary at Troy.
In 1850, while on his way to attend a provincial council in
New York, he was injured in a railroad collision near Tarrytown, his right foot
being badly crushed. In 1851 he visited Rome, where he was received with favor.
On the death of Archbishop Hughes he was made archbishop of New York, 6 May,
1864, and installed on 2l August of that year. The province then included New
England, New York, and New Jersey.
During his administration communities of various religious
orders were introduced, many fine churches were built, and the Foundling asylum,
the Institute for deaf-mutes at Fordham, homes for destitute boys and girls in
connection with St. Stephen's and St. Ann's churches, homes for aged men and
women, and orphan asylums without the city were established. He was especially
active in the erection of the Catholic Protectory in Westchester, and in the
building of the new cathedral, the cornerstone of which Archbishop Hughes had
laid on 15 August, 1858.
He attended the Vatican council in 1869, and served on the
committee on discipline, also visiting Rome in 1874. On 15 March, 1875, the pope
appointed him a cardinal priest, with the title of Sancta Maria supra Minervam,
and on 27 April of the same year the ceremony of investiture took place in the
old cathedral. In 1878 he was summoned to Rome to take part in the conclave that
was called to elect a successor to Plus IX. On 25 May, 1879, he dedicated the
new cathedral.
On 12 January, 1884, there was a celebration of the golden
jubilee of his ordination as a priest, and the address presented to him by the
clergy said: "Fifty years ago there were in this city but six churches; now
there are sixty. There were then but twenty priests in the diocese; now there
are 380. At that time there were in the whole United States only nine bishops;
now there are fifty-nine. Then there was but one archbishop; now there are
eleven, one of whom has been raised to the great senate of the universal
church."
During the last ten years of his life his strength failed
gradually, and as early as 1 October, 1880, Archbishop Corrigan was made
coadjutor at his request. Cardinal McCloskey was tall and slender, but of erect
and elastic bearing. His forehead was broad and his features pleasant, his eyes
being bright blue and deeply set, and his mouth mobile. His manner was quiet,
but impressive. He was a profound scholar and an effective preacher.
It has been said that the history of his life is the
history of the progress of the Roman Catholic Church in New York, but it would
be a mistake to attribute that progress altogether to him, or even to him more
than to any other man. He was fortunate in succeeding Archbishop Hughes, for he
was enabled to enter into the results of that prelate's controversies without
inheriting any of the animosities that they engendered, and his episcopate was
like a calm after a storm. His remains were deposited, 15 October, 1885, in the
vault under the sanctuary of St. Patrick's cathedral, New York.
McCLOSKEY, John, cardinal, born in Brooklyn, New York, 20 March, 1810, of Irish parentage; died in New York city, 10 October, 1885. When a boy he had a delicate constitution, and an accident, in which a log rolled (wer him, weakened his lungs, so that he was never robust, lie was sent to Mount St. Mary's college, Emmettsburg, Maryland, and after a seven years' preparatory and col legiate course, entered the theological department of the institution to prepare for the priesthood. After completing a seminary course of five years he was ordained a priest by Bishop Dubois, 12 January, 1834, in the old cathedral in New York, being the eighteenth priest that was ordained in the diocese. He was sent to Rome to continue his studies, with the design of placing him at the head of a proposed college and seminary. Early in 1835 he entered the Gregorian college, where he spent two years, and on his return he visited the various countries of Europe. He was appointed, 1 November, 183'7, pastor of St. Joseph's church, New York city. On 24 June, 1841, Bishop Hughes opened St. John's college, Fordham, and appointed him president" but he held the post only a year, and then returned to his parish work. On 10 March, 1844, he was consecrated bishop of Axieren in partibtts, and made coadjutor of the diocese of New York, with the right of succession. In 1847 the new sees of Albany and Buffalo were created, and he was transferred to the former, 21 May, 1847. During the seventeen years of his administration the growth of the church in the new diocese was very rapid, he introduced various religious organizations, including Ladies of the Sacred tteart, Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St. Joseph, those of the third order of St. Francis, and Hospital-ers, Jesuits, Oblates, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Capuchins, and he built the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and founded the theological seminary at Troy. In 1850, while on his way to attend a provincial council in New York, he was injured in a railroad collision near Tarrytown, his right foot being badly crushed. In 1851 he visited Rome, where he was received with favor. On the death of Archbishop Hughes he was made archbishop of New York, 6 May, 1864, and installed on 2l August of that year. The province then included New England, New York, and New Jersey. During his administration communities of various religious orders were introduced, many fine churches were built, and the Foundling asylum, the Institute for deaf-mutes at Fordham, homes for destitute boys and girls in connection with St. Stephen's and St. Ann's churches, homes for aged men and women, and orphan asylums without the city were established. He was especially active in the erection of the Catholic protectory in Westchester, and in the building of the new cathedral, the cornerstone of which Archbishop Hughes had laid on 15 August, 1858. He attended the Vatican council in 1869, and served on the committee on discipline, also visiting Rome in 18'74. On 15 March, 1875, the pope appointed him a cardinal priest, with the title of Sancta Maria supra Minervam, and on 27 April of the same year the ceremony of investiture took place in the old cathedral. In 1878 he was summoned to Rome to take part in the conclave that was called to elect a successor to Plus IX. On 25 May, 1879, he dedicated the new cathedral. On 12 January, 1884, there was a celebration of the golden jubilee of his ordination as a priest, and the address presented to him by the clergy said: "Fifty years ago there were in this city but six churches; now there are sixty. There were then but twenty priests in the diocese; now there are 380. At that time there were in the whole United States only nine bishops; now there are fifty-nine. Then there was but one archbishop ; now there are eleven, one of whom has been raised to the great senate of the universal church." During the last ten years of his life his strength failed gradually, and as early as 1 October, 1880, Archbishop Corrigan was made coadjutor at his request. Cardinal McCloskey was tall and slender, but of erect and elastic bearing. His forehead was broad and his features pleasant, his eyes being bright blue and deeply set, and his mouth mobile. His manner was quiet, but impressive. He was a profound scholar and an effective preacher. It has been said that the history of his life is the history of lhe progress of the Re'nan Catholic church in New York, but it would be a mistake to attribute that progress altogether to him, or even to him more than to any other man. He was fortunate in succeeding Archbishop Hughes, for he was enabled to enter into the results of that prelate's controversies without inheriting any of the animosities that they engendered, and his episcopate was like a calm after a storm. His remains were deposited, 15 October, 1885, in the vault under the sanctuary of St. Patrick's cathedral, New York.
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