John Joseph Conroy

John Joseph Conroy (July 25, 1819 – November 20, 1895) was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Albany in New York State from 1865 to 1877.

Biography

Early life John Conroy was born on July 25, 1819, in Clonaslee, Queen's County in Ireland. He emigrated to the United States at age 12. After studying under the Sulpicians at the College of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, he studied theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and at St. John's College in New York City.

Priesthood Conroy was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of New York by Bishop John Hughes on May 21, 1842 in New York City. After his ordination, Hughes appointed Conroy as vice-president of St. John's College in 1843, becoming president shortly afterward. At that time, Conroy was incardinated, or transferred to the new diocese. In 1857 Bishop John McCloskey named Conroy as his vicar general. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York, on October 15, 1865, from McCloskey, with Bishops John Timon and John Loughlin serving as co-consecrators. Among the many institutions he founded were an industrial school, St. Agnes's Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York, St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, and a house for the Little Sisters of the Poor.