Carroll, John, 1735-1815

Carroll, the first Roman Catholic bishop of the United States and first Archbishop of Baltimore, was born 8 January 1735 in Upper Marlborough, Maryland, to Daniel and Eleanor Carroll. He was educated at Saint Omer's in Flanders as a Jesuit and returned to Maryland in 1774 where he resided until his death in 1815. He served for twenty five years as bishop and archbishop and contributed greatly to the growth of the American church. During his reign the clergy more than doubled its numbers and three seminaries were founded for their education. In addition, Catholic colleges for men were founded in Maryland at Georgetown (1788), Baltimore (Saint Mary's, 1799), and at Emmitsburg (Mount Saint Mary's, 1808). Academies for girls were begun at Georgetown (Visitation, 1799), Emmitsburg (Saint Joseph's, 1809), and Bardstown, Kentucky (Nazareth, 1814). Carroll left a legacy of religious tolerance and political loyalty to the state which clearly demonstrated the compatibility of Catholicism and human freedom in a democracy. He died in 1815.

From the description of The John Carroll papers. 1755-1815. (Catholic University of America). WorldCat record id: 163572091