John Cardinal McCloskey

John McCloskey, later John Cardinal McCloskey, (March 10, 1810 - October 10, 1885) born to Irish immigrants, in Brooklyn, was the fifth bishop (second archbishop) of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. He attended Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland: his schooling was interrupted by an accident that resulted in temporary blindness. Following graduation he became the first New York-born priest on January 12, 1834, and the first president of St. John's College (now Fordham University). He was appointed the Coadjutor Bishop of New York on November 21, 1843, ordained a bishop on March 10, 1844 with the titular see of Axiere, appointed Bishop of Albany on May 21, 1847, and appointed Archbishop of New York on May 6, 1864.

Archbishop McCloskey was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Pius IX in the consistory of March 15, 1875, becoming the first American cardinal. He dedicated the newly-constructed St. Patrick's Cathedral on May 25,1879. He served as Archbishop until his death, and is interred in the crypt under the altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral.