Sebastian Gebhard Messmer | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Milwaukee | |
 | |
| See | Archdiocese of Milwaukee |
| Installed | December 10, 1903 |
| Term ended | August 4, 1930 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Katzer |
| Successor | Samuel Stritch |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Green Bay (1892–1903) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | July 23, 1871 |
| Consecration | March 27, 1892 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 29, 1847 |
| Died | August 4, 1930 (aged 82) Goldach, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Education | University of Innsbruck Pontifical Roman Athenaeum Saint Apollinare |
Sebastian Gebhard Messmer (August 29, 1847 – August 4, 1930) was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay (1892–1903) and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (1903–1930).
He is largely remembered as a moderate. As a progressive for his time, Messmer opposed segregationist church policies based on race or language, and he was a major supporter of expanding Catholic-run welfare programs. But, he also pushed back against socialism as the movement was growing in Wisconsin, and he opposed women gaining the right to vote.