John McCloskey, later
John Cardinal McCloskey, (
March 10,
1810 -
October 10,
1885) born to
Irish immigrants, in
Brooklyn, was the fifth bishop (second archbishop) of the
Roman Catholic diocese of
New York. He attended Mount St. Mary's College in
Emmitsburg, Maryland: his schooling was interrupted by an accident that resulted in temporary blindness. Following graduation he was 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 a 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. He was elevated to
Cardinal on
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. He is interred in the crypt under the altar of
St. Patrick's Cathedral.
see
List of Roman Catholic Bishops and Archbishops of New York