David William Bacon
Encyclopedia
David William Bacon was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Portland, Maine
. Bacon was born in New York City
. He majored in classical studies at the Sulpician College at Montreal
and studied theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland
. He was ordained a priest in Baltimore, Maryland on December 13, 1838. Returning to New York
he served on the mission at Utica
and Ogdensburg
, and then in New York City and at Belleville, New Jersey
.
In 1841 he was sent to establish the third parish in Brooklyn, and for this bought the unfinished building begun in November 1831, as the "Independent Catholic Church" by the Rev. John Farnan, who had been suspended by Bishop John Dubois
. It was completed and dedicated on June 10, 1842, under the patronage of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
In 1855 he was named first Bishop of Portland, and consecrated in St. Patrick's Cathedral
, New York City, on April 22, 1855.
There were only six priests and eight churches in the Portland diocese, which at that time included the entire state of Maine
. At his death the diocese contained 63 churches, 52 priests, 23 parish schools, and a Catholic population of about 80,000.
In the summer of 1874 he started for Rome with Archbishop John McCloskey, but having fallen ill on ship-board was forced to remain in the Naval Hospital at Brest
until the Archbishop returned, on his way home. Bishop Bacon was carried on board the steamer and barely reached New York alive. He was taken to a hospital on shore, where he died a few hours later. The bronze altar of the Sacred Heart, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
, was erected by Archbishop McCloskey in thanksgiving for Bacon's life being spared until he got back to the United States.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. Bacon was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He majored in classical studies at the Sulpician College at Montreal
Collège de Montréal
The Collège de Montréal is a private secondary school for students attending grades 7–11 located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A former Roman Catholic Seminary, it was founded 1 June 1767 as the Petit Séminaire of Montreal by the Suplician Order...
and studied theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Emmitsburg, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...
. He was ordained a priest in Baltimore, Maryland on December 13, 1838. Returning to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
he served on the mission at Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, and then in New York City and at Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
.
In 1841 he was sent to establish the third parish in Brooklyn, and for this bought the unfinished building begun in November 1831, as the "Independent Catholic Church" by the Rev. John Farnan, who had been suspended by Bishop John Dubois
John Dubois
Bishop John DuBois was the third bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. He was the first presiding bishop to reside in the diocese....
. It was completed and dedicated on June 10, 1842, under the patronage of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
In 1855 he was named first Bishop of Portland, and consecrated in St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
, New York City, on April 22, 1855.
There were only six priests and eight churches in the Portland diocese, which at that time included the entire state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. At his death the diocese contained 63 churches, 52 priests, 23 parish schools, and a Catholic population of about 80,000.
In the summer of 1874 he started for Rome with Archbishop John McCloskey, but having fallen ill on ship-board was forced to remain in the Naval Hospital at Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
until the Archbishop returned, on his way home. Bishop Bacon was carried on board the steamer and barely reached New York alive. He was taken to a hospital on shore, where he died a few hours later. The bronze altar of the Sacred Heart, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
, was erected by Archbishop McCloskey in thanksgiving for Bacon's life being spared until he got back to the United States.