20 Facts About Michael Corrigan

Michael Augustine Corrigan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the third archbishop of New York from 1885 to 1902.

Michael Augustine Corrigan was born August 13,1839, in Newark, New Jersey, the fifth of nine children of Thomas and Mary English Corrigan, both of whom had emigrated from Ireland.

Thomas Corrigan owned a retail grocery and liquor business in Newark, and the family's well-to-do status allowed Michael to pursue his educational interests.

Michael Corrigan attended St Mary's College in Wilmington, Delaware, from 1853 to 1855, Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, from 1855 to 1857, spent a year in Europe, and received his bachelor's degree from Mount Saint Mary's in 1859.

Michael Corrigan became a member of the first class at the North American College in Rome, was ordained to the priesthood in September 1863 at the Basilica of St John Lateran, and received a doctorate of divinity in 1864.

Michael Corrigan soon achieved a reputation within the hierarchy for sound scholarship, and he provided pastoral care to Catholics in the Seton Hall vicinity.

When Bernard J McQuaid left Seton Hall in 1869 to assume his duties as bishop of the Diocese of Rochester, Corrigan succeeded him as college president and became vicar general of the Diocese of Newark.

Michael Corrigan succeeded James Roosevelt Bayley as bishop of Newark, becoming the second ordinary of the diocese.

Michael Corrigan administered diocesan affairs during a time of rapid population growth, Roman Catholic institutional development, immigration from Ireland and Germany, and considerable urbanization in the northern part of the state.

Michael Corrigan then established The Catholic Protectory in Denville, where the boys were taught skills and trades.

Michael Corrigan was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop to John Cardinal McCloskey of New York on October 1,1880, with the titular see of Petra, and succeeded to the archbishopric on October 10,1885, serving as archbishop until his death.

Michael Corrigan aligned himself closely with his former mentor, Bernard J McQuaid and has been considered one of the leaders of the "conservative" movement within the American Catholic hierarchy.

Michael Corrigan proved to be a strong supporter of national parishes and parochial schools, a vocal opponent of John Ireland, James Gibbons and other bishops who advocated "Americanization" within the Catholic Church.

Michael Corrigan proved unpopular with many bishops for his involvement in backstage intrigue at the Vatican.

Michael Corrigan himself had been very close to Tammany Hall and ordered McGlynn to refrain from politics.

Michael Corrigan was rebuked by the Vatican in 1887 for neglecting the spiritual needs of the surge of Italian immigrants settling in New York and for treating them in a humiliating way.

Michael Corrigan justified this exclusion on the grounds that the Italians were "not very clean" and would drive down revenues unless segregated from the Irish.

Michael Corrigan had invited Mother Cabrini to New York, but had to withdraw his invitation.

Michael Corrigan slipped and fell when inspecting the excavation of the seminary in 1902.

Michael Corrigan was interred in the crypt under the altar of St Patrick's Cathedral.