Connolly, John

Connolly, John an eminent Roman Catholic prelate, was born on the banks of the Boyne, near Navan, Ireland, in 1750, and was educated in Belgium. At an early age he proceeded to Rome, and there spent most of his life in the convents of his order, that of St. Dominic. He was for many years agent in that city of the Irish bishops, and filled various chairs as professor.. He was selected by the cardinal-bishop of Albano as the examiner of candidates for the priesthood. In these duties he displayed great ability and virtue, and is remembered by his pupils as a man of gentleness of character. In 1814 he was appointed to succeed Concanen as the second bishop of New York, and was consecrated November 6 of that year. His diocese comprised! the state of New York and part of New Jersey, in which were thirteen thousand Catholics, three Jesuit fathers, and one secular priest. After a faithful episcopate, Connolly died in New York, February 6, 1825, and was succeeded by Dubois. See De Courcy and Shea, Hist. of the Cath. Church in the U.S. pages 375-388.