James Murray (bishop)

The Right Reverend James Murray D.D. (25 March 1828 – 9 July 1909)[1] was a Roman Catholic bishop, the first resident Bishop of the diocese of Maitland in New South Wales, Australia.[2]

Background

Murray was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, the son of James Murray, a farmer, and his wife Catherine, née Doyle.[1] James junior was educated at the Propaganda College at Rome, where he remained from his fourteenth to his twenty-fourth year (1852), when he was admitted to the priesthood. He then returned to Dublin, where he remained until his appointment to the see of Maitland, in the province of Sydney. During eleven years of this period he acted as private secretary to Cardinal Paul Cullen.[2]

Career in Australia

On 14 November 1865, Murray was consecrated first Bishop of Maitland, and in October 1866 he landed in New South Wales. After taking possession of the see, the ecclesiastical and educational development of the diocese under his auspices were enormous.[2]

Murray's health began to worsen by the mid-1890s and in 1897 he chose Patrick Vincent Dwyer, his protégé, as coadjutor bishop.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McMinn, W. G. "Murray, James (1828–1909)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mennell, Philip (1892). "Wikisource link to Murray, Right Rev. James". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co. Wikisource