Francis Patrick Kenrick

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Kenrick, Francis Patrick, Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore, was born in Dublin, 3rd December 1797. He received a classical education, and after six years of theological study at Rome, was in 1821 ordained a priest. He then went to the United States, and conducted a school in Kentucky. In 1828 he published Letters of Omicron to Omega in defence of his religion. In 1842 he was consecrated Bishop of Philadelphia, and in 1851 was promoted Archbishop of Baltimore. The Pope named him Apostolic Delegate to preside over the first plenary Council of the United States, convened at Baltimore in May 1852, and in 1859 conferred on him and his successors the Primacy of the United States. He was the author of numerous theological works, and was latterly engaged upon a revised English translation of the Scriptures. Primate Kenrick died at Baltimore, 8th July 1863, aged 65. His brother Peter, also an Irishman, was in 1843 consecrated Archbishop of St. Louis.

Sources

37a. Biographical Dictionary—American Biography: Francis S. Drake. Boston, 1876.

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