James Vincent Cleary

Who was James Vincent Cleary?

James Vincent Cleary was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario. He was born in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland. He was educated locally at a classical school. He studied for the priesthood initially in Rome but then at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth where he was ordained on the 19th of September 1851. He also studied at Salamanca in Spain before returning to Ireland to become a Professor in St. John's College, Waterford, where he also served as president of the college from 1873-76. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree, by the Catholic University of Ireland. He was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Waterford and Parish Priest of Dungarvan in 1876, prior to being named Bishop of Kingston in Ontario. In Canada he over seen the development of the Diocese with the building of over 40 new churches.