Church Roman Catholic Church Died February 24, 1898 Name James Cleary | Predecessor John O'Brien See Kingston | |
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In office October 1, 1880— February 24, 1898 Successor Charles-Hugues Gauthier Alma mater St Patrick's College, Maynooth | ||
James Vincent Cleary (18 September 1828 – 24 February 1898) was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario.
Biography
Cleary was born in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland. He was educated locally at a classical school. He studied for the priesthood initially in Rome but then at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he was ordained on 19 September 1851. He also studied at Salamanca in Spain before returning to Ireland to become a professor in St. John's College, Waterford, where he also served as president of the college from 1873 to 1876 (his brother Patrick, also a priest, served as the Seminary president as previously). He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree, by the Catholic University of Ireland. He was appointed vicar general of the Diocese of Waterford and parish priest of Dungarvan in 1876, prior to being named Bishop of Kingston in Ontario. In Canada he oversaw the development of the diocese with the building of over 40 new churches.