Patrick Donahoe
Encyclopedia
Patrick Donahoe was a publisher who founded influential magazines for the Irish Catholic community in his adopted country.
He emigrated to Boston when ten years of age with his parents, and at fourteen was apprenticed to a printer. He worked on The Jesuit when that paper was started by Bishop Fenwick
in 1832, and after the bishop relinquished its ownership, he carried it on for some time with H.L. Devereaux under the new title of The Literary and Catholic Sentinel. In 1836 he began the publication of The Pilot, a weekly paper devoted to Irish American and Catholic interests, which in succeeding years became the chief organ of Catholic opinion in New England
. He established in connection with it a publishing and book-selling house from which were issued a large number of Catholic books. Later he organized a bank.
All his ventures proved successful and he gave some of the wealth he acquired to advance Catholic interests. The Great Boston Fire of 1872
destroyed his publishing plant. Another fire in the following year and injudicious loans to friends made him lose so much more that his bank failed in 1876. Archbishop Williams purchased The Pilot to help to pay the depositors of the bank, and Mr. Donahoe then started a monthly Donahoe's Magazine and an exchange and passenger agency. In 1881 he was able to buy back The Pilot and devoted his remaining years to its management. During the American Civil War
he actively interested himself in the organization of the Irish regiments that volunteered from New England. In 1893 the University of Notre Dame
gave him the Laetare Medal
for signal services to American Catholic progress.
He emigrated to Boston when ten years of age with his parents, and at fourteen was apprenticed to a printer. He worked on The Jesuit when that paper was started by Bishop Fenwick
Benedict Joseph Fenwick
Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J. was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. A Jesuit, he served as Bishop of Boston from 1825 until his death in 1846.-Early life and education:...
in 1832, and after the bishop relinquished its ownership, he carried it on for some time with H.L. Devereaux under the new title of The Literary and Catholic Sentinel. In 1836 he began the publication of The Pilot, a weekly paper devoted to Irish American and Catholic interests, which in succeeding years became the chief organ of Catholic opinion in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. He established in connection with it a publishing and book-selling house from which were issued a large number of Catholic books. Later he organized a bank.
All his ventures proved successful and he gave some of the wealth he acquired to advance Catholic interests. The Great Boston Fire of 1872
Great Boston Fire of 1872
The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Boston's largest urban fire, and still ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history. The conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. on November 9, 1872, in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83—87 Summer Street in Boston,...
destroyed his publishing plant. Another fire in the following year and injudicious loans to friends made him lose so much more that his bank failed in 1876. Archbishop Williams purchased The Pilot to help to pay the depositors of the bank, and Mr. Donahoe then started a monthly Donahoe's Magazine and an exchange and passenger agency. In 1881 he was able to buy back The Pilot and devoted his remaining years to its management. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he actively interested himself in the organization of the Irish regiments that volunteered from New England. In 1893 the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
gave him the Laetare Medal
Laetare Medal
The Laetare Medal is an annual award given by the University of Notre Dame in recognition of outstanding service to the Roman Catholic church and society...
for signal services to American Catholic progress.