John Baptist Purcell

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John Baptist Purcell (1800 - 1883) was born February 26, 1800 in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland. He was educated in classical studies at the school at Mallow. He emigrated to America in 1818.

He served as the last Roman Catholic Bishop of Cincinnati between 1832 and 1850. He then served as the first Archbishop of Cincinnati from 1850 until 1883.

Purcell High School is named in his honor (now called Purcell Marian High School) in Cincinnati, OH.
A street in Cincinnati was named after him.

Preceded by Edward Fenwick	Bishop & Archbishop of Cincinnati 1833–1883	Succeeded by William Henry Elder

[edit] Chronology

February 26, 1800 - born in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland.
1818 - emigrated to America. Became a private tutor in Maryland.
1820 - applied for and was accepted for admission at Mount St. Mary's, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
May 4, 1823 - received minor orders
March 1, 1824 - Sailed the Atlantic to study at Sulpician seminary, Paris, France.
May 20, 1826 - ordained at Notre Dame Cathedral by Archbishop de Quelen, Archbishop of Paris.
October, 1828 - returned to Mount St. Mary's, Emmitsburg, Maryland, becoming vice-president of the college.
November, 1829 - became president of Mount St. Mary's seminary.
September 26, 1832 - Bishop Edward Fenwick, O.P. dies.
February 25, 1833 - In Rome, the Cardinals of the Propaganda nominate Purcell to become Second Roman Catholic Bishop of Cincinnati.
October 13, 1833 - John Baptist Purcell consecrated as bishop, Principal Consecrator is Archbishop James Whitfield, Principal Co-consecrators Bishop John Dubois, P.S.S. and Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick. Celebration held at Baltimore Cathedral.
November 14, 1833 - Bishop John Baptist Purcell arrives by steamboat in Cincinnati, and is installed by Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget.
December 19, 1836 - Agrees to a series of public debates with a Baptist minister in Cincinnati, these debates are known as "Purcell-Campbell debate". Debates conducted January 13, 1837 to January 21, 1837.
June 16, 1838 - Leaving from New York, travels to Ireland, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria and Italy, seeking alms for the diocese. First of seven trips including 1841, 1843, 1851, 1862, 1867 and 1869.
April 25, 1851 - Cincinnati diocese elevated to Archdiocese, with John Baptist Purcell as first Archbishop of Cincinnati.
May 31, 1870 - addressed First Vatican Council (1869-1870) on the subject of Papal infallibility.
January 30, 1880 - Bishop William Henry Elder appointed as co-adjutator to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell.
April 18, 1880 - Bishop William Henry Elder arrives at Cincinnati by train.
October 31, 1880 - suffers first stroke and paralysis.
June 19, 1883 - suffers fourth and last stroke.
July 4, 1883 - dies at St. Martin's convent, Brown County, Ohio.