John Lancaster Spalding

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John Lancaster Spalding †

Denomination	Roman Catholic
Senior posting
See	Diocese of Peoria
Title	Bishop of Peoria
Period in office	1877 – 1908-09-11
Successor	Edmund Michael Dunne
Reason for exit	Retirement
Religious career
Priestly ordination	1863-12-19
Personal
Date of birth	1840-06-02
Place of birth	Lebanon, Kentucky, USA
Date of death	1916-08-25

John Lancaster Spalding (1840-06-02 – 1916-08-25) was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria from 1877 to 1908^[1] and a co-founder of The Catholic University of America.

Peoria's Catholic high school for boys, Spalding Institute, was named for him; the school was closed in 1989 during the Peoria Notre Dame High School merger. Spalding Hall at The Catholic University of America is also named for him.

Contents 1 Early years 2 Bishop 3 Publications 4 References

[edit] Early years

He was born on 1840-06-02 in Lebanon, Kentucky and became a priest at age 23, on 1863-12-19, in the Diocese of Louisville.^[2] His uncle, Martin John Spalding, later became Bishop of Louisville then Archbishop of Baltimore, but did not live to see John himself become bishop.^[3]

[edit] Bishop

On 1876-11-27, Spalding was appointed as the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria, newly created out of part of the then-Diocese of Chicago. He was installed as the first Bishop of Peoria on 1877-05-23^[4] by John Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New York,^[2] with Thomas Patrick Roger Foley, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago presiding.^[4]

As bishop, Spalding was a proponent of education. He was instrumental in the founding of The Catholic University of America, and several Catholic schools in Peoria were founded during his tenure.^{[citation needed]} He also oversaw the construction of St. Mary's Cemetery just outside Peoria (now in West Peoria, Illinois).^[4]

Spalding was the author of several books, including a biography of his uncle Archbishop Martin John Spalding, and poetry under the pseudonym Henry Hamilton.^[4]

Spalding became paralyzed from a stroke in 1905 and, as a result,^[4] retired on 1908-09-11 at the age of 68 and was appointed Titular Bishop of Scythopolis.^[2] He died on 1916-08-25, aged 76.^[2]

[edit] Publications

• Essays and Reviews^[4]
• Lectures and Discourses^[4]
• Education and the Higher Life^[4]
• The Poet's Praise (as Henry Hamilton)^[4]
• Opportunity and Other Essays (as Henry Hamilton)^[4]

[edit] References

Preceded by None	Bishop of Peoria 1877 – 1908	Succeeded by Edmund Michael Dunne
Preceded by Joseph-Marie Raya	Titular Bishop of Scythopolis 1908 – 1916	Succeeded by Antonio Tani