John Henni

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Archbishop Henni helped found Marquette University and Saint Francis Seminary in Wisconsin

John Martin Henni (15 June 1805 in Misanenga, Switzerland - 7 September 1881 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was the first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1875 to 1881. He was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1829 in Bardstown, Kentucky. Before his ordination as archbishop, Henni was ordained bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee on March 19, 1844 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Michael Heiss succeeded Henni after his death in 1881.^[1]

Henni was instrumental in the establishment of Marquette University, which was opened two days before his death.^[2] He also founded the St. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin out of his residence, and brought various orders of nuns and priests to Milwaukee. The main building at St. Francis Seminary, Henni Hall, is named in his honor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Because of his work to expand the Catholic presence in Wisconsin (particularly the German-speaking Catholic population), Pope Pius IX created the Roman Catholic Province of Milwaukee on February 12, 1875.^[3]