James Buckley

Who was James Buckley?

James Buckley was a Roman Catholic bishop.

Buckley was born February 24, 1770, son of John and Ann Buckley, of London. He was baptised by Rev. Gerard Robinson; admitted to English College, Lisbon Feb. 22, 1785; ordained a priest December 24, 1794, and retained in the College as a superior till 1801; he was presented to the presidency of the College by Bishops Douglass and Poynter, March 29, and formally installed, December 15, 1806. He resigned and returned to the English mission, 1819.

It is recorded that he had great talents which he displayed throughout his College Course, especially in poetry, in which his compositions were of such beauty and excellence that Father Allen, his master, who himself had a most refined taste, expressed his opinion that not even Pope could have struck off more elegant verses in so short a time. He had been chosen Superior in 1795, a position which he held until 1801, when, at his own request, he came to England; to return again, however, as President in May, 1806.

Soon after his return to London on March 6, 1819, Buckley was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, Antilles and titular Bishop of Geras, ordained on June 29, 1819. He died as the incumbent of both on March 26, 1828.