John Hughes (archbishop)


John Hughes
Archbishop of New York
Photo by Mathew Brady, c. 1860–1863
SeeNew York
InstalledDecember 20, 1842
Term endedJanuary 3, 1864
PredecessorJohn Dubois
SuccessorJohn McCloskey
Other post(s)Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of New York and Titular Bishop of Basilinopolis (1838–1842); Priest of the Diocese of Philadelphia (1826–1838)
Orders
OrdinationOctober 15, 1826
by Henry Conwell
ConsecrationJanuary 7, 1838
by John Dubois
Personal details
Born(1797-06-24)June 24, 1797
Annaloghan, County Tyrone, Ireland
DiedJanuary 3, 1864(1864-01-03) (aged 66)
New York City, US
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
Alma materMount St. Mary's Seminary
SignatureJohn Hughes's signature

John Joseph Hughes (June 24, 1797 – January 3, 1864) was an Irish-born Catholic prelate who served as Bishop (and later Archbishop) of New York from 1842 until his death.[1] In 1841, he founded St. John's College, which would later become Fordham University.

A native of Ireland, Hughes was born and raised in Augher in the south of County Tyrone. He emigrated to the United States in 1817, and became a priest in 1826 and a bishop in 1838. A figure of national prominence, he exercised great moral and social influence, and presided over a period of explosive growth for Catholicism in New York. He was regarded as "the best known, if not exactly the best loved, Catholic bishop in the country."[2] He became known as "Dagger John," both for his following the Catholic practice wherein a bishop precedes his signature with a cross, as well as for his aggressive personality.[3] His sister Angela Hughes was a nun and oversaw the opening of 15 schools and convents in New York.

  1. ^ "Archbishop John Joseph Hughes". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  2. ^ Bryk, William (March 25, 2003). "Dagger John and the Triumph of the Irish". New York Press. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
  3. ^ Stern, William J. (Spring 1997). "How Dagger John Saved New York's Irish". City Journal.