John McCloskey (1810-1885) was the second archbishop of New York and the first American to be elevated to the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals.

John McCloskey was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 10, 1810, the son of Patrick and Elizabeth Harron McCloskey, recent immigrants from Ireland. His father, a clerk, died when John was 15 years old, at which time the young man became the ward of Cornelius Heeney, a wealthy merchant. He graduated from Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1828 and returned to the school a year later to study for the priesthood.

Ordained in 1834, McCloskey served as a parish assistant and seminary instructor until he was given an opportunity to study in Rome. He was in Italy from 1835 to 1837. When he returned he was appointed rector of St. Joseph's Church in Greenwich, Conn. He served also as president of St. John's College, Fordham, N. Y...