John Edmund Fitzmaurice

John Edmund Fitzmaurice (January 8, 1839—June 18, 1920) was the fourth Roman Catholic Bishop of Erie (1899–1920).

Fitzmaurice was born in Newtown-Sandes, County Kerry, and began studying law at age fifteen.^[1] In 1858 he came to the United States, where he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania.^[1] He was ordained by Bishop James Frederick Wood on December 21, 1862,^[2] and then served as a curate at St. John's and St. Paul's in Philadelphia.^[1] After serving as pastor of St. Agatha's, he became rector of St. Charles Seminary in 1886.^[1] His nephew, Edmond John Fitzmaurice, was also rector of St. Charles (1920-25) as well as Bishop of Wilmington (1925-60).

On December 14, 1897, Fitzmaurice was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Erie and Titular Bishop of Amisus by Pope Leo XIII.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on February 24, 1898 from Archbishop Patrick John Ryan, with Bishops Ignatius Frederick Horstmann and Edmond Francis Prendergast seving as co-consecrators.^[2] He succeeded Tobias Mullen as Bishop on September 15, 1899.^[2] During his 21-year-long tenure, Fitzmaurice established several parishes and dedicated St. Peter's Cathedral (1911).^[3] He later died at age 81.

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