Whelan, Richard Vincent, Dd

Whelan, Richard Vincent, D.D.

a Roman Catholic prelate, was born in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 29, 1809. He was educated at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmettsburg, where he became a teacher and prefect of studies; studied theology and philosophy at the Seminary of St. Sulpice, Paris, graduating in 1831; was ordained priest at Versailles the same year; was professor in St. Mary's College from 1832 to 1835; was a missionary in several parts of Virginia and Maryland from 1835 to 1840; became bishop of Richmond in March, 1850, and on the division of the diocese the following year took the title of bishop of Wheeling, where he was active in promoting the interests of Romanism, building up a seminary for young ladies, and a convent at Mount de Chautal; was a member of the Vatican Council of 1869-70, in which he opposed the dogma of infallibility, but gave in his adhesion to it after it was declared. He died at Wheeling, July 7,1874.