Leonard Neale
Encyclopedia
Leonard Neale, S.J.
(October 15, 1746 – June 18, 1817) became, in 1800, the first Roman Catholic bishop ordained in the United States
, and the second Archbishop of Baltimore. He devoted considerable time to the establishment of the Visitation Sisters, and also served as President of Georgetown College
.
, France
, and later at Bruges
and Liège
, Belgium.
He became a member of the Society of Jesus, and after his ordination on June 5, 1777 he taught in colleges and officiated as pastor in different places in Europe. Father Neale was teaching in the Jesuit college of Bruges when that institution was seized by the Austro-Belgian government, and along with the other Jesuits was expelled. He moved to England, where he had charge of a small congregation, but after several years he sailed in 1779 for Demerara
, where he worked zealously among the natives and settlers. At length his health was almost ruined by the inclemency of the climate and the severity of his labors. He left Demerara in January, 1783, and after a dangerous voyage, in which he fell into the hands of British cruisers, he reached the United States in April 1783.
In June of 1783 he attended a meeting of the clergy of Maryland at Whitemarsh and took an active part in its deliberations. He was stationed at St. Thomas Manor
among his relatives until 1793. He then went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and tended to victims of a yellow fever
epidemic, even though his own health was in a delicate state. He was vigilant in his attentions to the sick and dying, and on the reappearance of yellow-fever in 1797 and 1798 he resumed his former exertions until he was stricken by the disease. While he was in Philadelphia he was appointed vicar-general for the northern states.
According to Jesuit and slave tradition Father Neale baptized George Washington on his deathbed, however, eyewitness accounts make no mention of such an event.
asked Neale to succeed Louis William Valentine Dubourg
as president of the school in Georgetown
, Washington, D.C.
He acted in the dual capacity of president and tutor for several years. During his tenure, the institution was developed from an academy into a college
in 1801.
In 1799, Neale founded the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
, under the direction of the Sisters of the Visitation. Both the school and the convent
are still active more than 200 years later.
Carroll had some time previous to this applied to Rome
to name Neale as his co-adjutor bishop. Neal was consecrated a bishop by Carroll in 1800, but remained as President of Georgetown College until 1806.
In 1809, his brother, Francis Neale
, became president of Georgetown College.
on December 3, 1815 and served until his death on June 18, 1817. As archbishop, he presided St. Mary's Catholic church's operations and decided upon his decision that appointed French priest Joseph Clorivière was to serve at St. Mary's Catholic. This wasn't welcomed by Irishman John O'Raw and this nominee refusal was met with the Charleston schism (1815–1819).
His other brother, Charles Neale
(died 1823), was the leader of the Jesuit Mission in America by the time he died.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(October 15, 1746 – June 18, 1817) became, in 1800, the first Roman Catholic bishop ordained in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the second Archbishop of Baltimore. He devoted considerable time to the establishment of the Visitation Sisters, and also served as President of Georgetown College
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
Early life and ministry
Leonard Neale was born in Port Tobacco, Maryland on October 15, 1746 to William and Anne (Brooke) Neale. He was educated in the College of Saint-OmerSaint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and later at Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Belgium.
He became a member of the Society of Jesus, and after his ordination on June 5, 1777 he taught in colleges and officiated as pastor in different places in Europe. Father Neale was teaching in the Jesuit college of Bruges when that institution was seized by the Austro-Belgian government, and along with the other Jesuits was expelled. He moved to England, where he had charge of a small congregation, but after several years he sailed in 1779 for Demerara
Demerara
Demerara was a region in South America in what is now Guyana that was colonised by the Dutch in 1611. The British invaded and captured the area in 1796...
, where he worked zealously among the natives and settlers. At length his health was almost ruined by the inclemency of the climate and the severity of his labors. He left Demerara in January, 1783, and after a dangerous voyage, in which he fell into the hands of British cruisers, he reached the United States in April 1783.
In June of 1783 he attended a meeting of the clergy of Maryland at Whitemarsh and took an active part in its deliberations. He was stationed at St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor is a historic home and church complex located near Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland. It is a two story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture, of Flemish bond construction. Connected to the manor house stands a two-story brick wing that incorporates a former...
among his relatives until 1793. He then went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and tended to victims of a yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
epidemic, even though his own health was in a delicate state. He was vigilant in his attentions to the sick and dying, and on the reappearance of yellow-fever in 1797 and 1798 he resumed his former exertions until he was stricken by the disease. While he was in Philadelphia he was appointed vicar-general for the northern states.
According to Jesuit and slave tradition Father Neale baptized George Washington on his deathbed, however, eyewitness accounts make no mention of such an event.
President of Georgetown
In 1798, John CarrollJohn Carroll (bishop)
John Carroll, was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States — serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is also known as the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, and St...
asked Neale to succeed Louis William Valentine Dubourg
Louis William Valentine Dubourg
Louis William Valentine Dubourg was a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who played an active role in the growth of the church in the early years of the United States. He was born in Cap Français, St...
as president of the school in Georgetown
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He acted in the dual capacity of president and tutor for several years. During his tenure, the institution was developed from an academy into a college
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
in 1801.
In 1799, Neale founded the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School was founded in Washington, DC in 1799 as the Georgetown Academy for Young Ladies. It was also formally referred to as the Convent and Academy of the Visitation. Since 1799, the school has continued for over 200 years as a college preparatory school for women...
, under the direction of the Sisters of the Visitation. Both the school and the convent
Visitation Convent, Georgetown
The Visitation Convent, Georgetown is a nunnery of the Visitation Order, located in the District of Columbia, United States of America.-History:...
are still active more than 200 years later.
Carroll had some time previous to this applied to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to name Neale as his co-adjutor bishop. Neal was consecrated a bishop by Carroll in 1800, but remained as President of Georgetown College until 1806.
In 1809, his brother, Francis Neale
Francis Neale
http://cdm164001.cdmhost.com/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15036coll5&CISOPTR=1016&CISOBOX=1&REC=3Father Francis Ignatius Neale, S.J., was an American Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit Order who became President of Georgetown College on two occasions and who was a leader of the Jesuit Mission...
, became president of Georgetown College.
Archbishop of Baltimore
Neale succeeded John Carroll as archbishop of BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
on December 3, 1815 and served until his death on June 18, 1817. As archbishop, he presided St. Mary's Catholic church's operations and decided upon his decision that appointed French priest Joseph Clorivière was to serve at St. Mary's Catholic. This wasn't welcomed by Irishman John O'Raw and this nominee refusal was met with the Charleston schism (1815–1819).
His other brother, Charles Neale
Charles Neale
Father Charles Neale, S.J., was a leader of the Jesuit mission in America. He was born in the Catholic colony of Maryland to a prominent family, descended from Captain James Neale, who had settled in the colony in 1642 with a royal grant of land of two thousand acres. The family traced its origins...
(died 1823), was the leader of the Jesuit Mission in America by the time he died.