Hecker, Isaac Thomas

Hecker, Isaac Thomas a Roman Catholic priest, was born December 18, 1819. He was brought up a Protestant. At first he was engaged in business, but in 1843 joined the community at Brook Farm. In 1849, having entered the Catholic Church, he was ordained by cardinal Wiseman. At first he joined the Redemptorist; Fathers, but soon planned, and in 1859 founded, the Congregation of St. Paul, the members of the order being converts from Protestantism. He has been chief of the order from the start. In 1865 he founded the Catholic World. He died December 21, 1888. — See Appletons' Cyclop. of Amer. Biography.