John McCloskey

John Cardinal McCloskey, (March 10, 1810 - October 10, 1885) was an American cardinal, the fifth bishop (second archbishop) of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York.

Infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=John Cardinal McCloskey
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
See=New York|

Background

John was born to Irish immigrants Patrick McCloskey and Elizabeth Hassan in Brooklyn. Patrick had been from the townland of Killunaght and Elizabeth from Coolnamonan in the Parish of Banagher, County Londonderry in County Londonderry. When their marriage was opposed by their families they eloped together. They married in St Eugenes Cathedral in Derry in approximately 1808. Following this they emigrated to America where they settled in Brooklyn. John is believed to have been the second of 10 children, William McCloskey being the eldest. Patrick McCloskey died in 1820 aged 45 and after this Elizabeth moved the family to Bedford, Westchester, NY.

Life

John McCloskey attended Mount St. Mary's University (then Mount St. Mary's College) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. His schooling was interrupted by an accident that resulted in temporary blindness. Following graduation he became the first New York-born priest on January 12, 1834, and the first president of St. John's College (now Fordham University). He was appointed the Coadjutor Bishop of New York on November 21, 1843, ordained a bishop on March 10, 1844 with the titular see of Axiere, appointed Bishop of Albany on May 21, 1847, and appointed Archbishop of New York on May 6, 1864.

Archbishop McCloskey was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Pius IX in the consistory of March 15, 1875, becoming the first American cardinal. He dedicated the newly-constructed St. Patrick's Cathedral on May 25, 1879. He served as Archbishop until his death, and is interred in the crypt under the altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral.